In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Robert Ian Bolton, then 45, of The Strand, Swansea, West Glamorgan, was branded a “committed paedophile” and jailed after being caught in a sting by a “paedophile hunter” group. Bolton appeared at Swansea Crown Court just weeks after being released from prison for previous “vicious” child sex offences.
The investigation revealed that Bolton “dishonestly” bought a secret smartphone—a direct breach of his court orders—on 11 December 2018, the same day he was released from a 12-month sentence for grooming. Within weeks, he began “vilely” searching the “Meet4U” site for young girls. On 1 February 2019, he made contact with a profile he believed to be a 13-year-old girl named “Jodie,” which was actually a decoy.
“Relentless and Persistent” Sexual Grooming
The prosecution emphasised that Bolton bombarded the decoy with hundreds of “disgusting” sexual messages, explicit images, and “vile” audio files. He “callously” pressured the 13-year-old to tell him she “loved” him and asked for a Valentine’s Day card addressed to “boyfriend.” To maintain control, he “viciously” warned the girl that if she told anyone, he would go to prison and she would be taken into care.
Bolton eventually arranged to meet the child at Swansea train station for sex at a B&B. When he arrived at the station, he “dishonestly” fled after spotting individuals he suspected were paedophile hunters. He was later seen by his probation officer dumping his illicit smartphone in a bin before being arrested. It was subsequently reported that he had been communicating with two other decoys operated by the same group.
“Dangerous Offender” and Lifelong Monitoring
Judge Geraint Walters emphasised that it “beggared belief” that Bolton had engaged in such “vicious” and “relentless” behaviour so soon after his release. He declared Bolton a “dangerous offender” who posed a “significant risk” of causing substantial harm to children.
For his “serious” crimes, including breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and attempting to meet a girl following sexual grooming, Robert Ian Bolton was:
- Sentenced to a three-year prison term.
- Handed an extended licence period of a further three years.
- Ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
- Subject to a lifelong SHPO.
Bolton is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by South Wales Police, ensuring his behaviour and digital activities in Swansea and the wider West Glamorgan area are strictly monitored for the rest of his life. Any future attempt to “dishonestly” possess a smartphone or contact minors will result in his immediate arrest and return to prison.
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