April 2014

Predatory paedophile handed a 10-year sentence for preying on two schoolgirls on Facebook

A ‘predatory and manipulative’ paedophile has been given a 10-year sentence for grooming two schoolgirls on Facebook.

Craig Francis, 26, had sexual intercourse with one girl and told another he wanted to run away with her and ‘have babies’.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that Francis, from Mountain Ash, told police he would have carried out even more abuse had he had the chance and that he had targeted young victims because of their low expectations.

He met both girls, who were living in England, over the internet when they were aged 12 and 14 years old.

Rachel Knight, prosecuting, said Francis had first contacted the 12-year-old girl in 2013 over Facebook.

“She was pictured in her school uniform, so he must have been under no illusion how old she was,” said Ms Knight.

The pair exchanged phone calls and text messages – 1,699 of which were recovered – predominantly sexual in nature.

A judge heard he told her to strip on a webcam and they talked on Skype, messaging all hours of the day and night.

“He became possessive and controlling,” said Ms Knight.

Although they never met, Francis told her that he had sexual dreams about her, wanted to take her virginity and to “have his babies”, she said.

At the same time he was in contact with a 14-year-old girl. The court was told they arranged to meet at a caravan in Devon last May, where the pair had intercourse, and she later visited him at his home at Glancynon Street, where their sexual relationship continued.

Her mother, who believed her daughter had gone to stay with a nearby friend, found out when she couldn’t contact her, so searched her room and found her diary – which detailed their relationship.

Ms Knight said the girl refused to reveal what had happened and wouldn’t cooperate with the police investigation.

Francis admitted sexual grooming, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

He also admitted two counts of making and one of possessing indecent images of a child following the search of his home.

Ms Knight told the court Francis had claimed initial contact had been innocent but it had quickly escalated out of control.

Sue Ferrier, defending, said of university dropout Francis: “He is a man who is ashamed of what he has done.”

She told the court his problems had stemmed from the stillbirth of his child and he had looked for comfort elsewhere, targeting young girls.

“He said they would not have had high expectations of him,” said Ms Ferrier.

Judge Richard Twomlow jailed Francis for six years and imposed an extended four-year licence for public protection.

He told him: “You were juggling two girls much younger than you. You have shown a great ability to be manipulative and controlling.

“These were calculated, serious and manipulative offences, which show that you are a predatory offender.”