Paedophile asked nine-year-old to be his ‘boyfriend’

Thomas Serpell, 28, told the child he wanted to ‘see him naked’ then later told his victim to delete the messages between them and not to tell his mother

A paedophile sent sexualised messages to a nine-year-old and asked him to be his boyfriend. He later told his victim to delete the messages and not to tell his mother about them, which allowed him to conceal what he had done.

Thomas Serpell, 28, sent a series of text messages to his victim which was “sexual and disturbed”. He asked the boy to “be his boyfriend” and asked him to kiss him, as well as asking him if he could see him naked.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard the victim was left “confused and comfortable” by the messages. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.

There were further messages where the defendant asked the boy not to tell his mother about the messages and to delete them, which the boy did.

He later told the boy the messages were a “joke”.

But when the matter was reported to the police, Serpell denied any messages between him and the victim had been sent.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Paul Hobson said: “You only have to think how frightening and disturbing this episode must have been for that child.

“The impact on him has been significant.”

In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Laurence Jones, the boy said he was scared to go out alone and the impact on him had left struggling to eat and sleep.

He has become more isolated, with only a small circle of friends and said at times he “feels he doesn’t want to be here anymore.

There have been concerns about the boy self harming.

Serpell, of Regent Street, Aberaman, Aberdare, later pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child.

The court heard he was of previous good character.

In mitigation, Nick Gedge said his client has epilepsy and told the court the offence took place shortly after the defendant had suffered a seizure.

The barrister said: “He knows what he did was wrong and expresses remorse and regret about what happened.”

Mr Gedge said his client was bullied in school and by his father because of his sexuality.

Judge Hobson said: “You claim you sent these messages after coming out of an epileptic seizure. I do not accept your illness had an impact on your behaviour or your recollection of what you did…

“Epilepsy does not cause people to sexually offend againt children, you have sought to minimise your behaviour.”

Serpell was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

The defendant was also made subject to a restraining order, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and sex offender notification requirements, each to run for 10 years.

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