Defendant sent explicit content within minutes of contact after being told children were aged thirteen and fourteen

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man who sent explicit sexual videos and messages to what he believed were underage girls has been jailed after being exposed by online paedophile hunters.

Devon Wildgust, aged 22, was arrested after contacting two social media profiles on the Connect2.me platform in November, unaware that both accounts were decoys operated by adult volunteers.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Wildgust first made contact with a profile on November 16. Despite being told the girl was thirteen, he continued the conversation, exchanged phone numbers and moved the chat onto WhatsApp.

The court was told the conversation quickly became sexual. Wildgust sent a photograph of a naked woman and suggested the girl take similar images of herself. He later sent a video of himself masturbating and made sexually explicit comments after being shown a photograph purportedly of the girl wearing a school uniform.

In messages shown to the court, Wildgust made graphic remarks about wanting to remove the uniform and engage in sexual activity. He also claimed he had previously engaged in sexual behaviour involving a friend’s younger sister — a claim he later told police was untrue.

Three days later, Wildgust contacted a second decoy profile on the same platform. Just seventeen minutes after initiating the conversation, he sent another explicit video of himself masturbating.

After being told the second girl was fourteen, he asked whether she liked older men and requested nude images, including asking to see her breasts. When the decoy replied that her mother had warned her never to send pictures, Wildgust told her her mother did not need to know.

On November 22, members of a paedophile hunter group confronted Wildgust at his home address in Ammanford and detained him before contacting police.

Wildgust was arrested and his mobile phone was seized, though he refused to provide the PIN code. Police attempts to access the device using specialist software were unsuccessful.

Four days later, officers were called after Wildgust breached his bail conditions by attending his stepfather’s address and refusing to leave. The court heard he was fearful of being targeted in the community after his identity became known.

Sentencing the defendant, Judge Geraint Walters said he was continually surprised that individuals were still committing such offences given the effectiveness of police investigations and online decoy operations.

He warned that consequences for offenders frequently extended beyond the courtroom, including being ostracised or driven out of their communities.

Defending, Emily Bennett said Wildgust had expressed disgust at his own actions and said the breach of bail occurred when he sought refuge after learning his identity had been circulated locally.

Wildgust, of Lon y Gruglas, Ammanford, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to incite a child to engage in a sexual act. He had no previous convictions.

Taking into account his guilty pleas, Judge Walters sentenced him to two years in prison. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence.

Wildgust was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Support and advice

Anyone affected by sexual abuse, or concerned about the safety of a child, can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit nspcc.org.uk for confidential advice and support.

Children and young people c

Stalking offence followed trial at Swansea Magistrates’ Court

A MILFORD HAVEN man previously convicted of stalking offences has been made the subject of a hospital order following a trial at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.

Jack Fletcher, aged 34, of Great North Road, Milford Haven, was found guilty after a contested hearing of stalking a woman in Swansea between September 1, 2024 and January 18, 2025.

The court heard that Fletcher denied the offence, which proceeded to a full trial. Following his conviction, magistrates imposed a hospital order, reflecting concerns around his mental health.

Fletcher was also made the subject of a two-year restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly.

During proceedings, Fletcher was described as behaving disruptively in court, including shouting abuse and repeatedly thumping on the ceiling of his flat, which formed part of the evidence considered by magistrates.

The court concluded that a hospital order was the most appropriate disposal in the circumstances, prioritising treatment while maintaining protection for the victim through the restraining order.

Fletcher has appeared before the courts on previous stalking matters, with earlier cases heard in Pembrokeshire, making this the latest development in a series of prosecutions linked to similar behaviour.

A 48-YEAR-OLD man has pleaded guilty of burglary after thousands of pounds worth of tools were stolen from an electrical shop in Aberystwyth. 

Dyfed-Powys Police received a call reporting that a burglary had taken place at CEF Electrical sometime between 3pm on Sunday 29 September and 7.15am on Monday 30 September, 2024. 

The shop owner explained that when he arrived to open the shop on the Monday morning, he noticed that the front door was smashed, and the wires linked to the alarm system had been cut.  

Inside the building, he noticed that several items – mainly high-power electrical tools – had been taken. The shop keeper calculated the total value of the stolen items was around £30,000.  

Officers were dispatched to the location and began securing forensic evidence from the scene and conducting CCTV and house-to-house enquiries.  

CCTV cameras captured a vehicle attending the business at around 11.30pm the night before and returning to the business at around 1am.  

Checks confirmed that vehicle belonged to a 48-year-old Christopher Cole from Hackney, London.  

DNA swabs taken from the inside of a broken windowpane also pointed to Christopher Cole being present at the crime scene. 

Cole was named as a wanted suspect, and extensive search enquiries led to his arrest in Rugby, England, by Hampshire Police on Wednesday 19 November 2025. 

He was brought into Aberystwyth police station for questioning. 

Cole was subsequently charged with burglary and released on conditional bail. On Monday, the 48-year-old admitted to the offence and will be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on 30 January, 2026 

PC Joe Roberts, the officer in this case, said: “This was a serious offence committed by a man who thought he could travel into our force area and target a local business for his own gain. 

“This crime has understandably had a significant impact on the business and its employees, and I hope this outcome will reassure them that Dyfed-Powys Police will not tolerate travelling criminals in our area. We eagerly await his sentencing.”