A REGISTERED sex offender from Newport who had sexual relationships with two girls under the age of 16 has been sentenced to more than six years in prison.

Robert Davies, aged 31, of no fixed abode, previously pleaded guilty to the offence at Newport Crown Court on February 12, 2015. 

The father-of-two had been on remand.

Newport Crown Court heard how Davies began a relationship with the first victim in 2009.

He was 26 at the time. Davies sent her messages on Facebook and via text message, asking her to meet him.

The court heard how Davies did not use contraception and that the girl was diagnosed with Chlamydia a short while after they first started having sex.

The victim kept their relationship a secret from her parents – often telling them she was at a friend’s house – and they reported her missing to police on numerous occasions.

In her victim impact statement, she said: “Rob made me feel special, like I was the most important person in his life. 

“I just felt destroyed and heartbroken when it was over. I now find it hard to trust people and be myself.

“He took my childhood away from me.”

The second victim, first met Davies when she asked him to buy alcohol for her at a convenience store in 2014.

Parked nearby, he bought her vodka and gave her his number. They arranged to meet up and he told her he wanted a relationship with her.

On the third occasion she visited him, they had sex for the first time. She fell pregnant and underwent an abortion two months later.

In her victim impact statement, she said: “He made me feel loved and told me we would get married when I was 18.

“He was the only reliable thing in my life and he took advantage of my vulnerability.”

Davies had previously been convicted for indecent assault in August 2003 and spent 18 months in a young offenders’ institute.

Suzanne Thomas, defending, said: “He did not want to put the victims through the ordeal of giving evidence.

“He is motivated to engage with courses in custody and on licence.”

Judge Paul Thomas said: “You took advantage of these impressionable young girls, who were half your age.

“You groomed them and there was a huge degree of planning involved.

“It had a significant effect on their childhood and you have to be treated as a dangerous offender.”

He handed down an immediate custodial sentence of six years and eight months. When Davies is released from prison, he will be on licence for a further four years.

The officer in the case, Detective Constable Emma Coopey, said: "Over a period of time Robert Davies deliberately preyed on and groomed two very vulnerable young girls. He has shown little remorse for his despicable actions and the impact he has had on his victims. Today’s sentence goes some way to reflect the gravity of the harm he has caused. 

“Keeping our young people safe from sexual exploitation is not something that we can do alone. We need the support of the community to make sure that any concerning behaviour by adults towards young people is reported to us. We can then work with other agencies to protect victims of exploitation and bring offenders to justice.”