**Man Sentenced After Requesting ’14-Year-Old Girl’ for Photos of Her Feet in Stockings**
A Swansea man has received a suspended prison sentence after sending sexually explicit messages to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, expressing a fetish for feet clad in stockings and tights. The case, heard at Swansea Crown Court, highlighted the dangers of online predatory behaviour and the growing use of decoy operations to root out those seeking to exploit children via the internet.
The offender, Ryan Cottle, aged 26 and originally from Carmarthen, initiated contact on December 8 last year. He unknowingly messaged a so-called ‘decoy’ account—a tactic often used by paedophile hunter groups to identify adults who attempt to engage children in sexual conversation. The decoy, posing as a young teenager, conversed with Cottle across social media platforms before moving their exchanges onto WhatsApp.
During these private exchanges, Cottle swiftly directed the discussion towards sexual topics. According to the prosecution, represented by barrister Dean Pulling, Cottle made his interest in nylon tights, stockings, and sexual activities linked to feet abundantly clear. He asked the ‘girl’ if she often wore tights and, disturbingly, requested pictures of her feet in them and her “stockinged toes”.
To maintain the ruse, decoy operators sent images showing legs in tights, prompting Cottle to respond with a bare-chested image of himself. The nature and frequency of these messages led the decoy account operators to contact the police. The exchange reportedly took place from February 8 last year through to January 13 this year. Upon notification, authorities acted firmly and Cottle was arrested at his Swansea address on January 15.
He was subsequently charged with attempted sexual communication with a child—a serious offence reflecting law enforcement’s zero tolerance for such behaviour. Facing court on July 31, Cottle pleaded guilty to the charge. During sentencing, Cottle’s defence barrister, Stuart John, presented him as a “young man with vulnerabilities”, stressing ongoing difficulties with mental health and challenges in forming age-appropriate relationships.
Mr John differentiated Cottle’s actions from those of calculated, remorseless offenders, and acknowledged his client’s struggles with alcoholism and what he called “unusual fetishes”. Despite these mitigating points, the court recognised the gravity of attempting to sexually communicate with someone perceived to be a minor.
His Honour Judge Geraint Walters imposed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. This measure acknowledges prospects for rehabilitation, in line with recommendations from probation services and the defence’s assertion that support could address Cottle’s underlying issues.
As part of his sentence, Cottle is required to complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity programme and is subject to a strict 90-day alcohol abstinence and monitoring order. In addition, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his online activity and contact with minors for ten years. Cottle will also be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for an equivalent period.
This case has prompted wider discussions around online safeguarding and the vital work undertaken by paedophile hunter groups. Their decoy operations, while sometimes controversial, have contributed to identifying individuals predisposed to preying on underage victims. Mental health professionals and children’s charities alike emphasise the need for ongoing public education about the risks children face in online spaces, and highlight that effective law enforcement and sentencing should be balanced with rehabilitation where appropriate.
As part of ongoing community efforts, authorities continue to urge vigilance from parents, carers, and young people regarding social media use. The case stands as a sobering reminder of the ever-present threat posed by those seeking to exploit children online, and the proactive measures communities and law enforcement are taking to hold offenders accountable.