4 Years 8 Months For Child Sex Offences
A 20-year-old Treorchy man has been sentenced to four years and eights months following convictions in relation to 11 child sex offences.
Jac Aaron Grmusa will serve four years and eight months in a young offenders institution and will have to register as a sex offender for life, following convictions in relation to voyeurism, sexual grooming and other child sex offences.
Grmusa pleaded guilty to 11 offences relating to children at Merthyr Crown Court on 17 October 2016.At the time, the judge indicated that he would consider using his extended sentencing powers due to the nature of the crimes.
Already a registered sex offender at the time of committing these offences, Grmusa was arrested by Dyfed-Powys Police on suspicion of voyeurism in July 2016 at a campsite near Builth Wells. Initially arrested after being caught attempting to film a child showering at the camp site using his mobile phone, upon examination of the device it became clear that there were numerous other offences, involving further victims, to be investigated.
Detective Inspector, Neil Jenkins, said: “We are pleased with the sentence handed out by the court today. Grmusa’s conviction is the result of a complex and technical investigation conducted by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Offender Management Unit, together with the Digital Communications and Cybercrime Unit (DCCU). Officers and highly-skilled staff worked relentlessly using hi-tech investigative methods to gather evidence, which has resulted in this substantial sentence.
“This excellent team work has resulted in a dangerous individual being taken off the streets and has no doubt prevented further harm to children. The sentence that Dyfed-Powys Police officers achieved for the victims in this case shows that we will not stand by while LGB&T and vulnerable people are exploited.
“This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone else engaging in sexualised conversations with children online that there are serious repercussions and Dyfed-Powys Police will continue to work hard to protect children from such dangerous offenders.”
Grmusa’s offences include:
- Four counts of possession of indecent photographs of a child;
- Two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming;
- One count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity;
- One count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity;
- One count of attempted to Incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity;
- One count of voyeurism and
- One count of distributing indecent photographs of children.
A further two child sexual offences will lie on his file.
As a result of Dyfed-Powys Police’s investigation a child sexual exploitation (CSE) operation – ‘Operation Uniondale’ – has been launched seeing Dyfed-Powys Police working with other forces, both in the UK and abroad, and with Social Services to ensure that a number of children aged between 12 and 17, with whom Grmusa was in contact, are safeguarded. A further male has been arrested by Greater Manchester Police for possession of indecent images of children as a direct result of the operation.
Police investigations have centred on Grmusa’s use of the gay dating App ‘Grindr’, and messaging Apps ‘Kik’ and ‘Snapchat’ to target vulnerable people, and have highlighted the potential danger of such platforms.
T/Assistant Chief Constable Pam Kelly said: “In Dyfed-Powys Police we take crimes involving vulnerable people extremely seriously, and as the court heard today Jac Aaron Grmusa targeted vulnerable members of the LGB&T community.
“In June we introduced dedicated LGB&T Liaison Officers, who provide a level of care to victims which is adapted to suit their needs, and provide specialist advice and support to investigative teams when dealing with sometimes very complex issues. We hope this sends a strong message to LGB&T communities that we actively seek to protect them and will thoroughly investigate any matter which highlights a risk to them.”
The Liaison Officers are now working out of stations right across the Ceredigion, Powys, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. If anyone in the LGB&T community is concerned about interactions they are having with someone, online or offline, an LGB&T Liaison Officer can be contacted by calling 101.
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