Paedophile sentenced for trying to meet 12-year-old girl
A Penarth man who thought he was meeting a 12-year-old girl for sexual contact after chatting with her online has been sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.
David Parton, 57, had been messaging a police decoy profile thinking they were a young girl. The messages became sexual in nature culminating in Parton arranging to meet the “girl” at a location in south Wales.
When he arrived at the location in south Wales he was arrested by police officers.
Craig Harding of the CPS said: “David Parton’s online messages were sexually explicit despite the belief he was messaging a child.
“He made arrangements to meet the decoy thinking the girl was missing school to meet him.
“Fortunately, there were no children at risk in this instance but that is not always the case. These circumstances serve as a reminder of the dangers children can face when using social media.
“The CPS will prosecute all sexual offenders when the legal test to do so is met.”
On 11 December 2024, David Parton was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment with an additional four-year extended licence and indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was also put on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.
Notes to editors
- David Ian Parton (DOB: 4/10/1966) is from Penarth
- Parton pleaded guilty to breach of a sexual harm prevention order; attempted sexual communication with a child; attempted incitement of a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence
- Craig Harding is a Senior Crown Prosecutor in CPS Cymru-Wales.