Bradley Mallaney, 19, was sentenced to six years detention in a young offenders institute at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a series of offences including causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, distributing indecent images, making indecent images and possessing extreme images. The court heard he had encouraged two young girls to perform sexual acts and self-harm online, and was found in possession of more than 1,000 indecent images of children, including babies under 12 months old.
Arrest and investigation
Mallaney, of Trenewydd, Llanfaes, was arrested by police at his home in Brecon on August 21, 2024, after information was received about his online activities. He was lying in bed with a mobile phone nearby, and when asked about the device he admitted there would be "material of concern" on it.
His devices were seized and a total of 1,233 indecent images of category A, B and C were discovered. The worst of these images depicted babies less than 12 months old being raped. Mallaney was also found to have distributed category A, B and C images.
Offences against two victims
Examination of his messages revealed he had been in communication with two young girls. In conversations with the first victim, who was 11 years old when Mallaney first began communicating with her, the defendant made multiple references to her age. The chat was sexual in nature, with Mallaney referring to himself as a "paedophile" and speaking about the victim's father "not knowing his daughter was being ruined by a 17-year-old."
The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, said the defendant met the first victim in person on one occasion. In 2023, Mallaney told the victim he was "scared and worried". When the victim asked if she should call him, he responded: "Well that's going to trace to my house, police tracking my phone dummy." Images of the victim performing sex acts on herself and self harming were found on his phone.
Recounting a victim personal statement made by the victim's mother, Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: "Your offending has had a profound impact on you victim. Your victim became withdrawn, she became reserved, her personality changed, she began self harming, having suicidal thoughts and she had serious mental health difficulties."
The second victim, who was 13 years old when Mallaney began speaking to her, was based in the New York area of the USA. He sent her indecent images and videos of himself and encouraged her to record indecent videos of herself and with her partner. The defendant also encouraged her to self harm, and after she sent several images of herself self harming, he praised her and spoke about how drugs could enhance sexual experiences.
Sentencing and impact
In mitigation, the court heard the defendant was under 18 years old at the time of the offences and had been "targeted by older men" to engage in such behaviour.
Sentencing, Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: "You used grooming behaviour against your victim before you began to introduce her in sexual activity... Your messages showed themes of domination, sexual violence and exploitation."
Mallaney was sentenced to six years detention in a young offenders institute, with an extended two year licensing period having been found to be a dangerous offender. He was also made subject to a restraining order, sex offender notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.
