A convicted sex offender has been sentenced to 23 months in prison for posing as a teacher and sending explicit photos to someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl. Timothy Edwards, 24, used a false name online and had a picture of a cat as his profile picture, which turned out to be the family cat photographed in the conservatory. Swansea Crown Court heard that Edwards began sending sexual messages and images to an undercover police officer shortly after receiving a suspended prison sentence for possessing images of child abuse.
In May 2024, Edwards was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order after being convicted of making indecent images of children. Despite the order restricting him from having social media accounts under a different name, Edwards contacted a profile pretending to be a 12-year-old girl on Kik, using the username ThomWayne500 and a photo of a black cat. He proceeded to send explicit images of himself and engage in suggestive conversations with the decoy.
Police arrested Edwards in August 2024 and found evidence on his Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra linking him to the online communication. The court heard that details in the background of the explicit photos matched Edwards’ bedroom at his home. Edwards pleaded guilty to breaching the sexual harm prevention order, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child (the recipient being an officer), and sending explicit images to cause distress. He was sentenced to a total of 23 months in prison, including activating the previously suspended sentence, and was given a new 10-year prevention order.
This case highlights the disturbing actions of a repeat offender and the importance of monitoring individuals with such convictions. Edward Timothy’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences for those who continue to engage in predatory behaviour online, especially towards vulnerable individuals. Swansea Crown Court’s decision reflects the severity of these offences and aims to protect minors from potential exploitation in the digital realm.