Man thought he was chatting to teen girls but were public 'decoys'

A GWYNEDD man who thought he was talking to teenage girls was actually speaking to “decoys”.

- By DAVID POWELL

Police were alerted to Ionut Badea's behaviour and he was arrested.

The 40-year-old, of Market Street, Caernarfon, admitted five child sex offences.

A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court gave him suspended sentences.

Prosecutor Elen Owen said on April 18 last year North Wales Police were contacted by people in Criccieth who said they had evidence the defendant had been engaging in sexual communication with a child since January last year.

These people said Badea had been in contact with three decoys posing as 14-year-old girls, the court heard.

Last January the first decoy told him she was 14 and he told her he was 30.

The "girl" asked him if it bothered him that she was 14 and he replied "not really" on WhatsApp, said the prosecutor.