A 59-year-old man from Llanelli has been sentenced to prison after engaging in sexually explicit communication with an online account he believed was operated by a 13-year-old girl, a court in Swansea has heard. The individual, Frank Standring, sent indecent images of himself and made plans to meet up, but the account was in fact a decoy set up by a group known for exposing suspected sexual predators.
The contact began in May 2022 on Facebook, with Standring initiating what prosecutors described as extensive and inappropriate conversations. Throughout the exchange, he was aware that he was communicating with someone he believed to be a minor. The social media profile was part of an undercover operation led by the group Dank Dragon, who target those seeking illegal contact with children online.
Despite being upfront about his own age, Standring fabricated other details about his personal life, even claiming to live in Manchester. When the supposed 13-year-old informed him of her age, Standring was not dissuaded and continued the sexually charged dialogue. According to court testimony, he asked personal questions regarding romantic relationships and undergarments, as well as proposing secretive communication.
In a disturbing twist, Standring, who at one point noticed the “girl” messaging another man online, advised her to cut contact, branding the other individual a “nonce” and a “dirty paedo.” Despite these warnings, Standring himself sent photographs of his genitals and made requests for reciprocal images. Furthermore, he declared his love for the profile and showed no concern for the age difference, court records revealed.
The communications escalated to include a phone call on 16 July 2022, where Standring again heard the age of the person he believed to be a teenager directly. Undeterred, he suggested a public meeting at a cinema. Details of his employment within a Carmarthen church, where he aided homeless individuals, were disclosed as the online relationship developed. Acting on this information, members of Dank Dragon confronted him at his workplace.
Following a confrontation and initial denials, Standring was arrested by local authorities. During interviews, he offered no comment but subsequently admitted to charges related to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child after grooming.
Defence barrister Dan Griffiths spoke in mitigation, stating that Standring has accepted full responsibility for his actions and acknowledging their grave nature. Griffiths also pointed to a significant delay in the legal process and claimed that his client’s default reaction was to avoid facing his issues. Nevertheless, Standring pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
Presiding over sentencing, His Honour Judge Huw Rees described Standring’s behaviour as persistent and calculated. The judge noted the defendant’s intent to meet and the explicit nature of the content shared, expressing concern about the potential ongoing risk Standring posed to young girls due to a lack of genuine remorse.
The severity of the offences was underscored as Standring was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment. Additionally, the court imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a period of 10 years, designed to restrict behaviours that could pose a threat to minors in future.
The case brings attention to the role of so-called “paedophile hunter” groups operating online and their controversial, but sometimes pivotal, involvement in bringing offenders to justice. It also raises questions regarding the safeguarding of children in digital spaces and the importance of vigilant enforcement.
Local authorities and child protection advocates continue to encourage parents to monitor their children’s online activity while supporting robust investigative measures to ensure community safety. The successful prosecution demonstrated in this case highlights the crucial collaboration between law enforcement and community activists in combatting abuse facilitated through digital communication platforms.