28-05-2025
Welshpool man who contacted school girl avoids jail
A POWYS man has been spared prison after breaching the terms of a crown court order he received for engaging in sexual communication with a child.
Shane Vickers, 31, was made the subject of a three-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in October 2022 at Mold Crown Court, after he asked a primary school-aged girl to be his girlfriend and later asked a young teenage girl to send him nude pictures on an online dating site.
Vickers, described as an 'extremely' vulnerable individual who lives in a home for adults with complex health disorders in Welshpool, previously admitted breaching the order on two occasions this year.
He downloaded the Snapchat app on Christmas Day last year without notifying police, and another app that allowed him to watch pornography, both of which he is prevented from doing by the crown court order.
Welshpool Magistrates' Court committed Vickers' case to the higher court in March after his guilty pleas.
At Mold Crown Court on Wednesday, May 28, Dylan Wagg, prosecuting, said the offences came to light on January 22 this year, after staff at the premises where Vickers lives informed police.
'The police were informed he had Snapchat on his phone,' said Mr Wagg.
'His email address was in the log in details and he admitted he'd done it around Christmas time.
'While looking at his phone, officers found he had the Blue Proxy app. He said he used it to watch pornography as his internet provider blocks him from watching it.
'He said he had been using it for about a year. The app allows users to browse privately, which is a breach of the order.'
Mr Wagg said Vickers received a three-year community order at Mold in 2022 for the original offences.
Acting for Vickers Simon Rogers said his client's best mitigation was his early guilty pleas.
'Police were able to see the messages he was sending and receiving, and there was no evidence to suggest he'd sought to make contact with young children,' said Mr Rogers.
'His level of functioning is extremely low.
'He would be extremely vulnerable within a prison setting. A suspended sentence would be best for both him and society at large.'
Judge Rhys Rowlands told Vickers: 'Despite what you say, it was quite calculated behaviour. You were hiding your activity over a period of time.
'I draw back from immediate custody, but not without misgivings. I am persuaded that there are realistic prospects of rehabilitation."
Judge Rowlands handed down a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years.
In addition, Vickers will complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, as well as up to 12 sessions of a mental health treatment requirement.
