A paedophile in Wales suffered a panic attack in court during his sentencing for sending videos to a decoy he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. Kyle Attard, 30, of Cardiff, communicated with a decoy account on Snapchat in December 2022, which was actually an undercover police officer. The court heard that Attard sent explicit images and videos of himself masturbating to the decoy, along with engaging in sexual conversations. It was also revealed that he had similar interactions with what appeared to be a 15-year-old girl in the USA.
When police searched Attard’s home, they found crack cocaine in his possession, leading to charges of drug supply. During the sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, the court learned that Attard had a history of addiction to crack cocaine and was in debt, which led him to store and supply drugs. The court also heard that Attard had numerous previous convictions, including unlawful wounding.
In mitigation, Attard’s barrister mentioned his client’s mental health issues, including anxiety disorder and suicidal thoughts, describing him as a “fragile individual”. The court was adjourned briefly as Attard suffered a panic attack during the proceedings. Despite the mitigation, Judge Richard Kember sentenced Attard to four years and four months in prison and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order against him.
Attard’s case highlights the dangers of online grooming and the severity of consequences for those who engage in such criminal activities. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the offences committed by Attard and sends a strong message about the consequences of exploiting vulnerable individuals online for illicit purposes.