A MAN who engaged in sexual communication with people he thought were teenage girls, and took explicit photos of another child, has been spared jail.

Jonathan Kelsall, 40, of Agenora Close, Connah’s Quay, was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Mold Crown Court today (September 28).

He had previously admitted charges of engaging in sexual communication with children, and taking indecent photographs of a child.

He was arrested in Llandudno after communicating with decoys posing as underage girls.

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Prosecuting, Patrick Gartland told the court that, on June 13, 2022, Kelsall used the online platform “Meet24” to make contact with “Mabel”, a decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl.

He then had conversations of a sexual nature with them, before later making contact with “Amy”, another decoy 13-year-old girl.

Kelsall made reference to his genitalia to “Amy” and asked if he could kiss her, but ended his conversation with her after she said she would send him a “normal picture” of herself, but not a “rude one”.

On August 2, 2022, Kelsall made contact with another decoy, “Bex”, posing as a 14-year-old girl, to whom he claimed he was aged 17.

He twice asked “Bex” if he could see her breasts, before making the same request to “Mabel”, another decoy, on WhatsApp.

When interviewed by North Wales Police, he denied the allegations put to him.

Kelsall’s mobile phone was also searched, which revealed photographs he had taken of a sleeping child’s groin area.

He was re-arrested but continued to deny all matters related to him, saying he was “set up”.

Defending Kelsall, Oliver King conceded that these were “serious offences”, but stressed that the communication was, “mercifully”, not with real children, and was “short in duration”.

Kelsall had also made “no request for penetrative activity”, Mr King said, adding that “no steps were made to meet any of them”.

There was also “no suggestion” that his behaviour escalated towards grooming the child who he took photographs of.

Mr King added that Kelsall has been “facing up to fact has a sexual interest in children,” and has been “asking for help”.

He asked if the court could draw back from imposing an immediate custodial sentence, as “there would be very little opportunity to do any meaningful work with him”.

Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry agreed to suspend Kelsall’s jail term, but added “onerous requirements” for him to carry out.

Kelsall will complete 100 hours’ unpaid work, a 45-session programme, and 45 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements.

He will adhere to sex offenders register notification requirements for 10 years, and was handed a sexual harm prevention order for the same time period.

The terms of this order including him being prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with a child younger than 16, unless approved by social services or by a parent or guardian.

Judge Parry told him: “You were prepared to take advantage of girls aged 13 and 14 for your sexual gratification.

“Once again, this case underlines the dangers to young children of social media.”

He added that he had behaved “disgracefully” in taking explicit photos of a child.

A deprivation order was made regarding the phone seized from Kelsall, who will also pay a statutory surcharge.