Hywell Hardman

Hywell Hardman, a 31-year-old resident of Bridgend, Wales, engaged in online sexual communication with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Between 8 February and 13 February 2024, Hardman used a Snapchat account under a false name, claiming to be 17 years old, to message the decoy profile operated by an undercover police officer.

The interactions quickly turned sexual in nature. Hardman requested pictures from the decoy, and upon receiving an image of a girl approximately 13 years old, he expressed interest in seeing more photos of her in school uniform and inquired about the colour of her underwear. Prosecutor Matthew Comer detailed in court how Hardman escalated by asking for naked pictures and intimate images of the supposed child. In response, Hardman sent photographs and videos of himself, including explicit images of his penis and footage of him performing a sex act. The language used throughout the exchanges was overtly sexual.

Hardman was arrested following the discovery of these communications. He later pleaded guilty at Newport Crown Court to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to watch an image of sexual activity. The court heard that Hardman was of previous good character, having left school without qualifications and experienced bullying in his past. At the time of the offences, he was in a relationship and is a father of two, though he now has only supervised contact with his children. In mitigation, his barrister Ruth Smith highlighted these personal circumstances.

Sentencing Judge Daniel Williams described the offences as 'too serious to be dealt with by anything other than an immediate custodial sentence'. On 1 August 2024, Hardman was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. Additionally, he was made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. The case was handled by South Wales Police, underscoring their efforts in protecting children from online predators through proactive undercover operations.