February 2014
Solicitor posed as American ‘surfer dude’ on internet to exploit girl, 13
A solicitor posed as a teenage American “surfer dude” on the internet to persuade a 13-year-old girl to strip for him.
The unsuspecting girl followed text instructions from 34-year-old Joseph Henry Fyles to pose in front of a webcam in her Leicestershire bedroom.
She could not see Fyles, who showed her a photo of an unknown suntanned, blond-haired youth.
He claimed to be 16, living in America and used the false name Haydn Baines.
Alan Murphy, prosecuting during a hearing at Leicester Crown Court, said: “He posed as a blond American surfer dude on a website and they made contact in 2011, moving from the chat room to text contact, via MSM messenger and Skype, although there was never vocal contact.
“Their chat became sexual and he encouraged her to remove her clothing, exposing herself to him, which she did.”
The matter came to the attention of the victim’s school and police were contacted.
Fyles was warned by the girl police were on his trail, the court was told.
However, he still went on to persuade at least two other girls of a similar age to expose themselves to him via the internet. Videos of the victims were found on his computer.
Fyles, who was a family lawyer for the National Youth Advocacy Service, in Merseyside, admitted five counts of inciting the 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity, in front of the webcam, between August 2011 and December 2012.
Mr Murphy said: “Following his arrest, police contacted his employer but there were no concerns with him at work.
“It’s an organisation set up to assist vulnerable adults and children.”
Fyles, now of Delta Road, Cobham, Surrey, also admitted downloading child pornography from the internet, as well as making indecent images of children, by downloading them or filming girls using webcams.
These related to 150 images and clips at level one, 50 at level two and one at level four.
All featured girls aged between 13 and 15. There were no images in the most serious category, level five.
Fyles was sentenced to a three-year community order, with supervision, and ordered to undergo a sex offender treatment programme.
Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert said: “You enticed this young girl to be very stupid on her part for your sexual gratification.
“You lied to her to get her to do your bidding. That’s exploitation.
“Girls like her need to be protected from themselves, as well as exploiters.”
Trevor Parry-Jones, mitigating, said Fyles had little self-confidence and was socially unsuccessful.
He confessed to his family and voluntarily sought treatment to ensure it never happened again, the court was told.
Mr Parry-Jones said: “He resigned and his legal career has gone. There’s no chance of him being involved in the profession. He’s now working as a barman.
“He’s appalled by what he’s done and remorseful.”
Fyles was placed on a sex offences prevention order, restricting his future computer use, which will be monitored by the authorities.
He will have to enlist on a sex offender register for five years and is barred from working with children.
