A Rowton PAEDOPHILE, Steven Farmer, has been incarcerated after persistently soliciting what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl for oral sex and proposing monetary compensation for explicit images.
Steven Farmer appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, April 19, charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor, attempting to induce a child under the age of 13 to participate in penetrative sexual activity, and attempting to compel a child under the age of 13 to view an image of sexual activity.
Steven Farmer was incarcerated for a duration of three years.
The court was informed that he commenced a dialogue with a female on the Kik social media platform on June 10 of the previous year.
The individual posing as a ‘girl’ informed Steven Farmer that she was a 12-year-old residing in Wales; however, the account was actually operated by an undercover police officer.
Steven Farmer told the ‘girl’ he was 18, when actually he was 25 at the time.
“She sent a photograph to him, and he said she looked way too young and it would have to stay between them,” prosecutor Brian Simpson said.
Steven Farmer asked whether she had a boyfriend and if she had performed sexual acts on him, as well as asking if she would perform oral sex on him.
He asked the ‘girl’ multiple times for naked photographs, offering her “£10 a picture”, and offered to meet up – including at her house if her parents were not home.
Steven Farmer also sent the ‘girl’ pornography, as well as a picture of an erect penis which he said was his.
Police raided his Tregaron home on July 28, seizing his mobile phone.
“He has made a sizable error, something that he bitterly regrets,” said David Singh, defending.
“His behaviour was wholly inappropriate. He has no intention of repeating his behaviour.”
Steven Farmer, now 26, of Rowton in Telford, had no previous convictions.
Sentencing Steven Farmer, Judge Geraint Walters said: “Your own child is a good deal younger than this girl. How her own father can act like that I have a hard time getting my head around.
“You have jeopardised your family life. You have jeopardised your time with your own children. You have already paid somewhat of a price, effectively being chased out of your own village.”
Steven Farmer was jailed for three years for attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity, and received six month sentences for each of the other offences, running concurrently.
Steven Farmer must also register as a sex offender for life, and was made the subject of a life-long sexual harm prevention order.
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