In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that 49-year-old Richard Roberts was warned to prepare for a prison sentence after admitting to a series of predatory child sex offences. Following proceedings at Caernarfon Crown Court, the defendant—of Lon Ogwen, Bangor, North Wales—pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate a sexual offence against a child under the age of 13. It was reported that Roberts also admitted to inciting a child to engage in sexual behaviour and possessing a significant collection of extreme pornographic material.
The investigation established that Roberts’ criminal activity took place in Chester in January 2019. North Wales Police reported that when the defendant was arrested on 26 January, officers discovered 165 images of an extreme pornographic nature in his possession. The prosecution reported that Roberts had taken active steps to facilitate physical abuse against a primary school-aged child, a move that led to his immediate placement on the Sex Offenders Register.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Roberts had demonstrated “good sense” by pleading guilty, though the gravity of his crimes meant that all sentencing options, including immediate custody, remained open. Caernarfon Crown Court heard that a pre-sentence report would be prepared to assess the full risk Roberts posed to the public before a final term was set in the New Year. The investigation established that the charges involved both the digital incitement of a minor and the physical coordination of a serious sexual offence.
Judge Huw Rees presided over the 2019 hearing, where he advised Roberts to prepare himself for a custodial sentence regardless of the adjournment. For his actions in Chester and Bangor, Roberts was granted bail under strict conditions until his sentencing date. The judge noted that the admission of possessing 165 extreme images further highlighted the defendant’s dangerous fixations, necessitating a thorough evaluation by the probation service to ensure future child protection.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in Wales and England, the status of Richard Roberts as of March 2026 was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: Sentenced in 2020 (Significant custodial term following the 2019 guilty pleas).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order active indefinitely.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court, following a North Wales Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence; Inciting a child to engage in sexual behaviour; Possession of extreme pornographic images (165 counts).
- Origin: Lon Ogwen, Bangor, Gwynedd.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Roberts is managed as a high-risk Category 1 predator within the Bangor and Gwynedd areas. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the calculated attempt to facilitate the rape of a child under 13 and the possession of extreme pornography, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his history of attempting to arrange physical meetings with minors requires the most intensive level of digital forensic monitoring by the North Wales Police Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender for life, Roberts’ details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his behaviour demonstrated a predatory intent to move from digital incitement to physical harm. Any failure to comply with his notification requirements, any unauthorised internet access, or any presence near schools or youth facilities in Bangor or Chester will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and the protection of the public.
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