CHURCH WORKER GOT GIRL TO STRIP ONLINE

A PAEDOPHILE employed at a church carried out sexual acts in front of a 13-year-old girl on a web camera, after he instructed her to strip naked.

- PHILIP DEWEY Reporter

He later claimed to police he and his victim became "boyfriend and girlfriend" and they had "planned to run away together" when she turned 16.

Anthony Arr, 61, began talking to the young teenager over social media and sent messages to her in which he described her as "beautiful" and made comments about her appearance. He acknowledged he should not be talking to her due to the discrepancy between their ages, but he continued to speak to her.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard the conversation progressed onto web camera, with both Arr and the victim visible.

During these conversations, the defendant would say "Are you seeing me? You clear?" which was believed to be code for checking the victim was on her own.

Prosecutor Bethan Evans said Arr would tell the victim to "get her kit off" and instructed her to masturbate, saying he would do so as well.

He also told the victim: "Don't worry, when we do have sex you won't be able to get pregnant, I've had the snip".