Stephen Mole

A 50-year-old man from Newtown with learning difficulties has been sentenced for grooming and attempting to meet a teenage girl for sex. Stephen Mole was caught in a sting operation by a paedophile hunting group at Newtown Railway Station on 20 July 2023.

Mole had been messaging two 14-year-old girls on apps including SweetMeet and WhatsApp, unaware they were decoys set up by the group. He explicitly asked one for a 'sexy pic' and to show him her genitals. With the other, he suggested she wear a skirt for 'fun playing with my bits' and her genitals, even referencing an encounter in a bush. No real children were involved, and investigations found no indecent images or relevant search history on his devices.

At Mold Crown Court on 4 September 2024, Mole pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming and two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. His barrister, Simon Rogers, described the offences as 'clearly serious' but noted Mole's isolated life and willingness to accept help, emphasising his low functioning and the risks posed by online access. Rogers highlighted the importance of the impending sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to monitor and reduce his risk.

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Simon Mills imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, calling Mole's pretence that the girl was over 16 'utter nonsense'. The judge acknowledged the absence of references to penetrative conduct as a mitigating factor but stressed the sinister nature of seeking to meet a child. 'Sexual interest in children is a path you've gone down, and you need to get off it, it's as simple as that,' Judge Mills told him. Mole also received concurrent sentences of eight and ten months, plus requirements for 45 rehabilitation activity days, 100 hours of unpaid work, and 12 months of mental health treatment. He must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

The case, reported by the County Times, underscores the role of community groups in gathering evidence and alerting authorities, though the judge noted such groups sometimes overstep. Mole's arrest followed his arrival at the station, where he faced public humiliation before police intervention.