A vulnerable young man has been spared prison for sending sexually explicit messages to a teenage decoy after being doorstepped and filmed live on social media by an adult vigilante group at his family's home.

Owain Roberts, 24, now living in Forden, near Welshpool, told the 'girl' to keep their conversation a secret, which went "very sexual quickly" even after the decoy told him she was 13, including asking her for sex, and telling her to carry out sex acts on herself.

The chat carried on from January 25 to February 4, 2023 before the decoy made contact with a group on Facebook.

Several volunteers from the vigilante group went to Roberts' family home in Gobowen, near Oswestry and started recording the confrontation live on social media. The recording lasted 49 minutes, during which time Roberts admitted messaging the 13-year-old for sex.

COURT NEWS | Newtown man 'barked' during online sex chat with teen girl decoy

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard on Friday, November 29, that Roberts' mother told the group to come into the house to stop neighbours from watching.

She explained to them that her son's childlike attitude is a symptom of XXY syndrome, and that she had removed Snapchat from his phone and monitored his internet activity after he had previously contacted under-18s.

During a police interview, Roberts wrongly thought it was acceptable to ask the 'girl' for sex because she was over 13 years old. The age people can legally consent to sexual activity is 16.

Roberts, who said he deeply regretted what he'd done and promised not to do the same in future, told police that he was curious about sex because he had not been in a relationship before.

He spoke about the effect the doorstepping had on his mental health and family and that he wanted to take his own life.

OTHER NEWS | Road closure and free parking for Newtown Christmas lights, Santa Run and fireworks

In mitigation, Roberts' barrister Mr Smith said the 24-year-old was assessed as "functioning much nearer to a 13-year-old", adding that his maturity development was lower for his age.

However, he had a good understanding that what he did was wrong and expressed remorse and shame.

"It's clear he is a vulnerable man, and custody would be extremely harsh on him," Mr Smith said.

"The conduct of vigilantes has made him and his family's life an absolute nightmare now; plastering things locally and on the internet. There has been a huge amount of punishment, perhaps unimaginable for most of us.

"There needs to be a great deal of caution with evidence from vigilante groups which many people feel is done in a menacing way.

OTHER NEWS | Car roof cut off to rescue injured person after head-on crash

"There is a Sexual Harm Prevention Order tailored on the use of internet. There is no evidence of him going out meeting children, in fact there is no evidence of him having friends outside the house."

His Honour Judge Anthony Lowe said he had considered Roberts’ difficulties including his functioning age which is a lot younger than 24.

"It was clear that you knew what you were doing was wrong," he said. "My concern is because those problems are such, I simply think there is a real risk that this might happen again because of the isolation, because of your inability to talk to people your own age.

OTHER NEWS | Domino's confirms it is opening a new store in Powys NEXT WEEK

"I take the point by Mr Smith that the Sexual Harm Prevention Order will certainly put limits to do it through the internet but that may increase the risk by forcing you to your only outlet which is real people as opposed to people over the internet.

"In my judgement, it was an attempt and not a real child involved but that was something you didn't know."

Suspending Roberts’ seven-month prison sentence for two years, the judge said: "I think you need to have something hanging over you.

"Whether your mother has told you not to do it is another matter, but you've done it and there needs to be some way to remind you that if you trespass this area again then you will go to prison."

Judge Lowe added: "It is one thing for people to go on the internet to try stopping people from committing this sort of offence as long as they are doing it appropriately but that should not be spilling into taking the law into their own hands.

What are your thoughts?

You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

"There will be a multitude of circumstances the public at large are not aware of, in part, the type of defendant coming before the court committing this offence.

"If they take the law into their own hands and start harassing Mr Roberts or his family, then they can expect the police to take action. Courts are there to sentence appropriately and not for the public to take the law into their own hands even if they do not agree."

Roberts is subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation requirement days with the probation service as part of his suspended sentence.