POLICE have released the mugshot of an army veteran who asked who he thought was a 14-year-old boy to carry out sex acts in the back of his van in a supermarket car park.

Sean Golder, formerly of the Royal Engineers, was arrested in the car park of Morrisons in Carmarthen on March 10 after arranging to meet the ‘boy’ – who was actually an undercover police officer.

Golder was jailed for a total of 19 months in prison for attempting to meet a child after grooming and attempted sexual communication with a child.

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Swansea Crown Court heard that Golder began messaging the ‘boy’ on social media on March 8, saying he was on his way to Carmarthen and was “looking for fun”.  

The profile said the ‘boy’ was 19, but in their first message he said was 14 – asking if that was too young, prosecutor Ieuan Rees said.

Golder replied: “Lol where are you? Are you looking for fun?”, adding “We could have fun in my van”.

The pair exchanged numbers and moved the conversation on to WhatsApp.

Golder asked the ‘boy’ for a photograph, and when the officer sent one, replied: “Wow is that really you?  I need you to run here now”.

“It is plainly very obviously a picture of a young boy, I would say no older than 14,” said Recorder Simon Mills. “The very idea that he thought the person was an adult is simply ludicrous.”

The defendant also spoke about them touching each other in the back of his van, and suggested “getting undressed” and video calling, Mr Rees said.

Golder suggested meeting the ‘boy’ at his home, but the officer replied it would be “too risky”. Instead, it was agreed they would meet in the Morrisons car park in Carmarthen on March 10.

Western Telegraph: Sean Golder attempted to meet who he thought was a child in the car park at Morrisons in Carmarthen.Sean Golder attempted to meet who he thought was a child in the car park at Morrisons in Carmarthen. (Image: Google Street View)

Ahead of the meeting, Golder asked: “Do you want me to touch you, w*** you, and suck you?”.

When Golder arrived at the store, he was arrested by police.

Golder had also taken ‘poppers’ – or alkyl nitrites – to the attempted meeting, and told the ‘boy’ the drugs would “turn him in to a s***”.

Golder, 55, formerly of The Pound in Pembroke Dock and now of Cosheston, has no previous convictions.

Helen Randall, defending, said that Golder had left school at 16 and joined the army. He was in the army for 23 years and served in Germany, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ms Randall said Golder had made use of his time in custody by completing English and maths qualifications and by taking up jobs.

She said the defendant “has been punished to a high level already by the time he’s served waiting for today’s sentence”.

Western Telegraph: Sean Golder was jailed after asking who he thought was a 14-year-old boy to carry out sex acts in the back of his van.Sean Golder was jailed after asking who he thought was a 14-year-old boy to carry out sex acts in the back of his van. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)

Dyfed-Powys Police worked alongside officers from Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) in taking down Golder.

Detective Inspector Mathew Davies, of Tarian, said: “This result shows we continue to identify and target the most dangerous individuals in our communities, and by working with Dyfed-Powys Police we were able to promptly detain Golder and prevent him from committing further offences.”

Detective Sergeant Owen Lock, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “It is crucial that we safeguard children and the most vulnerable members of our communities. By working closely with Tarian we will continue to target these offenders.

“If anyone has been a victim of child sexual abuse, we urge you to report it to your local police force via 101. We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred. Victims can talk in confidence to experienced investigators and we can help them get access to a range of other support services.

“If you have concerns about your use of the internet, or inappropriate thoughts about children, or if you are worried about how someone you know behaves around children, the Lucy Faithful Foundation provides a free, anonymous and confidential Stop It Now! Helpline on 0808 1000 900. They can offer advice, support and further information.”

As well as his prison sentence, Golder must now register as a sex offender for 10 years, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period of time.