A MAN from Abergele with a “deep-seated sexual interest in children” has returned to prison after breaching the terms of his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Paul Ellis, 64, of Market Street, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years at Mold Crown Court today (November 27).

He will have to serve a custodial term of at least five-and-a-half years before he can apply for parole.

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Prosecuting, Simon Mintz told the court that, in August 2017, Ellis was jailed after arranging to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old, but who in fact was a decoy.

Ellis was also issued with a SHPO as a result of this conviction, which he breached on September 21, 2021 by talking to “Courtnee” on the online platform, Chat Avenue.

“Courtnee” was another police decoy, posing as a 13-year-old girl, with Ellis telling her that he was a 45-year-old man called Dave.

The conversation between Ellis and “Courtnee” became increasingly sexualised, with him asking her to “bunk off school”, and that he would arrange to pick her up from school and take her to his flat.

Ellis told “Courtnee” that he wanted her to be his “sexy underage girlfriend”, the court heard.

He cancelled their arranged meeting the day before it was scheduled to take place, but told “Courtnee” to continue keeping their conversations secret.

Police then arrested Ellis and searched his property on September 24, 2021.

When interviewed, he made no comment, but later, after his mobile phone was analysed, he claimed he knew “Courtnee” was a decoy all along.

Defending Ellis, Sarah Badrawy said her client knew immediately custody was inevitable for him, but said his guilty pleas to his offences offered some form of mitigation.

There has been a lack of further offending from Ellis since these September 2021 incidents, she added.

Ellis was said to have elderly parents for whom he provides practical support, also.

Sentencing, Recorder Simon Mills told Ellis he is a “dangerous offender” who poses an “obvious” risk to young children.

Recorder Mills told him: “In my judgement, you are now, and will continue to pose for the foreseeable future, a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public; in particular, female children.

“You’ve got a deep-seated sexual interest in children; (but) you remain in denial. In my judgement, it’s necessary to pass an extended sentence upon you.”

His SHPO was extended to a lifetime order, while Ellis will adhere to sex offenders register notification requirements indefinitely.

The devices seized from Ellis were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed, while he will also pay a statutory surcharge upon his release.