Teenage Powys paedophile who encouraged drug use, sexual activity and self harm gets 'rare' extended sentence

A teenage Powys paedophile has been given an extended eight-year sentence, which a judge described as “rare” for someone of his age.

Bradley Mallaney, 19, was said to have encouraged drug use, self harm and sexual activity in conversations with two young victims.

Mallaney from Brecon, committed 12 offences while he was between 13 and 17.

He caused and incited two children to engage in sexual activity, had more than 1,200 indecent images and distributed some images.

He previously pleaded guilty to a total of 12 offences which included two charges of attempting to cause or incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity with penetration, and two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of a child, three of distributing indecent photographs of a child, one of possessing an extreme pornographic image and one charge of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday, August 7 heard that Mallaney was a minor aged between 13 and 17 and when he committed the offences.

Prosecuting, Caitlin Brazel said that on August 21, 2024 police executed a search warrant at his Brecon home. Mallaney was upstairs in his bedroom, his mobile phone was nearby and he told police that there would be “material of concern” on the device.

Another mobile phone and a computer tower were also seized.

Mallaney was arrested and he answered “no comment” to all interview questions on two occasions.

Forsenic analysis was carried out and it revealed 1,233 moving and still images of children; 631 were accessible and 602 were inaccessible.

They included 374 of category A images – the worst type - 157 of category B, 430 of category C, 160 prohibited images and eight images of extreme pornography.

There was also evidence of sexualised communications with other users and websites.

He had also distributed some indecent images to others and had been in communication with two girls.

In November 2022 he started communicating with a child who was just 11 years old.

He knew her age and made reference to it in their communications and there were 882 images of her on his devices in various stages of undress, nude, performing sexual acts and self-harming.

They also exchanged videos, he met with her on one occasion and he called himself a “paedophile” to her.

The mother of the girl in a victim statement said she used to be a happy young girl but this changed after communicating with Mallaney.

The mother said: “Her personality completely changed, she began self-harming, had suicidal thoughts, extreme anxiety and mental health issues. She was taken out of school and is now home schooled. She wants to put this behind her and she is becoming happier again but it has been a long and difficult process to get her to this stage.”

Another female Mallaney communicated with was just 13.

He sent her indecent images and recordings and encouraged her to take part in sexual activity.

The court was told Mallaney has a previous conviction for an unrelated driving matter.

Mitigating, Dyfed Thomas said Mallaney would comply with any community sentence.

“There is a broad period of offending. He got himself into a wrong way of behaving and offending. He is now 19 years old.

“From the time of arrest there has been no repetition. He says he has not been on a computer much, he says it is broken and does not work and he has removed himself from that.”

Mr Thomas said Mallaney lives with his grandmother and grandfather and he cares for his grandfather who has ill health.

“This sentence will have an immediate effect on the family. He is remorseful that he got involved in any of this activity,” he said.

Sentencing Mallaney at Cardiff Crown Court, on Wednesday (August 12) Judge Lloyd-Clarke said he had used grooming techniques with his victims, and he encouraged the use of drugs, self harm and sexual activity.

She said Mallaney had been targeted initially by older males to get involved in sexual behaviour online and she said she had considered a pre-sentence report and a letter from his grandmother.

But the pre-sentence report said his actions had been deliberate and sexually motivated, that he used trust and emotional influence on his victims and he gained sexual gratification from his power and control over them. It considered he would continue to pose a high risk of harm to children.

Judge Lloyd-Clarke imposed a restraining order for five years banning him from approaching or contacting girl one.

He will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, he is barred from working with children and other vulnerable persons and he was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

She imposed an extended sentence on Mallaney, which she said was rare on someone of his age.

He was given a total extended sentence of eight years and he will serve a total of six years in prison and then an extended licence period of two years.