Eric Craven

Eric Craven, 47, from Penmaenmawr, was sentenced to four years in jail as part of a group of six men convicted at Mold Crown Court for sexual offences against a 13-year-old girl. The exploitation was orchestrated by Frederick Lawlor, 52, from Abergele, Conwy, who controlled the teenager and arranged her encounters with men through advertisements in the Loot magazine. Craven willingly took part in sex acts with the girl at various locations, including beaches in north Wales, and contributed to the production of indecent videos documenting the abuse.

During the trial, the court viewed footage of the acts, which occurred in places like Llanddulas and Pensarn beaches, as well as in a car and a flat. Judge Mervyn Hughes QC described the defendants' behaviour as lacking any moral fibre, stating they treated the girl without consideration for her well-being. 'Each of you to a greater or lesser extent treated her as a sexual object without any consideration whatsoever for her feelings, or the consequences to her of your behaviour,' the judge remarked. Craven admitted to sexual activity with a child and was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

The ongoing North Wales Police investigation revealed the girl had been involved with approximately 50 men under Lawlor's organisation. Detective Inspector Wayne Jones, leading the inquiry, said, 'They've all had an opportunity... to say no and to report the matter to the police but they decided not to.' Craven's sentence reflects the severity of the systematic abuse over more than a year, with the judge noting the men's knowledge of Lawlor's control over the victim. Lawlor, admitting multiple charges, awaits sentencing following psychiatric evaluation, underscoring his pivotal role in enabling the offences.