Rodolfa Galvao

A 49-year-old man from Yate in South Gloucestershire has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after attempting to meet what he believed was a teenage girl for sexual activity. Rodolfa Galvao engaged in online communications with an account that purported to be an underage girl, sending explicit sexual messages and arranging to meet her at a bed and breakfast in Mumbles, Swansea.

The account Galvao was communicating with was actually operated by a decoy group dedicated to exposing potential child sex offenders. Unaware of the deception, Galvao booked a room at a B&B in Swansea and travelled to the area with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with the supposed 15-year-old girl. He was arrested on site in Parc Tawe, Swansea, after being confronted by members of the decoy group ahead of his planned stay.

Following his arrest, a review of Galvao's phone revealed a series of messages of a sexual nature sent to the decoy account, confirming his intent to groom and meet the underage individual. Galvao pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a girl under 16 years of age following grooming. The case was handled by South Wales Police, who highlighted the dangers posed by such individuals to children.

Detective Constable Rebecca Brain, from South Wales Police, commented on the case: "Rodolfa Galvao believed he was communicating with a child and still sent explicit sexual messages to them, even going to the lengths of arranging to meet them. It is clear that he poses a danger to children, and it is fortunate that the 'child' at the other end of the conversation was not real. He is fully deserving of a spell in prison." The incident underscores the role of community vigilance in preventing child sexual exploitation, with the decoy operation leading directly to Galvao's apprehension and conviction.