A convicted paedophile, Timothy Dowler, 22, who sexually abused children, engaged in phone conversations with a 15-year-old girl while in prison, expressing a desire to “meet up” and buying her alcohol, cigarettes, and trainers. Dowler was previously convicted of eight counts of causing or inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, leading to a six-year and six-month sentence in a young offenders’ institute. The Cardiff Crown Court sentencing hearing revealed that Dowler had met the victim on social media when she was 14, under the false pretense of being 18. The victim eventually cut off contact due to feeling uncomfortable.
Prosecutor Bethan Evans indicated that Dowler illicitly added the victim to his list of authorised contacts at HMP Parc in Bridgend by falsifying her age, claiming she was 20 years old. Despite the victim’s discomfort, Dowler persisted by making 178 calls to her until she requested to block his number. Dowler admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order and faced additional convictions for sexually assaulting a child under 14.
During the court proceedings, the victim expressed the emotional turmoil caused by Dowler’s manipulative actions, recounting how he provided alcohol, cigarettes, weed, and money in attempts to control her. Dowler’s defence attorney, Adam Sharp, highlighted the defendant’s challenging upbringing and previous work in the Navy and cooking industry. Judge Carl Harrison sentenced Dowler to an additional 20 months in prison, to be served consecutively, and issued a 10-year restraining order.
The victim’s statement depicted the lasting impact of Dowler’s actions on her mental well-being, describing his attempts to isolate and manipulate her. Despite the trauma, she acknowledged her resilience and progress in rebuilding her life. The sentencing aimed to hold Dowler accountable for his harmful behaviour and protect the victim from further harm.