Ryan Thomas

Ryan Thomas, 33, from Abercarn in Caerphilly, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court for sexual offences that demonstrated his ingrained inclination towards sexual offending, as described by Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant.

In April 2022, Thomas approached a 14-year-old girl and her friend outside a Morrison's supermarket in Caerphilly. He offered to walk them home, but when they refused, he followed them anyway. Outside the girl's home, he hugged her and kissed her on the lips without her consent, leading to his conviction for sexual assault.

The teenager's victim impact statement revealed the lasting trauma, stating she remained 'scared' of Thomas and that giving evidence in court made her 'nervous and anxious'.

While out on bail awaiting sentencing, Thomas committed a further offence in September 2025 by sending an unsolicited video of his genitals to another woman, along with sexually explicit messages. This act, known as cyberflashing, was made illegal under the Online Safety Act 2023, which came into effect in England and Wales on 31 January 2024. The law prohibits sending unwanted explicit images of genitals with intent to cause distress, alarm, humiliation, or for sexual gratification.

The second victim reported feeling 'no longer safe and secure', unable to sleep through a single night since the incident, and constantly looking over her shoulder.

Judge Porter-Bryant highlighted Thomas's 'appalling' record of previous convictions in the UK, Australia, and Ireland, noting he posed a 'very high risk of harm to children and very high risk to the public'. Thomas was sentenced to nine months for the sexual assault and four months for exposure, totalling 13 months in prison. He also received a 10-year restraining order prohibiting contact with his victims and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Superintendent Michelle Chaplin from Gwent Police described Thomas as a 'dangerous sexual predator' and emphasised that cyberflashing is a serious crime with a lasting impact on victims, not to be dismissed as banter. She noted this was the first cyberflashing conviction in Gwent and hoped the sentencing would send a clear message to perpetrators.