Ammanford teen jailed for raping 12-year-old girl

A 19-year-old man from Ammanford has been sentenced to three and a half years in a young offender’s institution after admitting to raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 17.

Jake Richards, of Garnswllt, appeared at Swansea Crown Court today (Wednesday, January 21) where he was sentenced for the offence which took place after the pair connected on Snapchat before meeting in person.

The victim bravely came forward in August 2024 after confiding in a friend about what had happened. She told police that she met Richards and they walked to a secluded tunnel where she believed they were going to talk. However, whilst in the tunnel, Richards instigated sex and continued despite the girl telling him no several times.

A comprehensive investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police, which included forensic and digital enquiries, led to Richards being charged with rape. He pleaded guilty when he appeared before the court.

Detective Sergeant Carl Pocock, of Dyfed-Powys Police, praised the victim’s courage, saying: “Firstly, I would like to commend the victim, who was just 12 years old when this offence happened, for her courage in coming forward to report this offence, and for her cooperation during the subsequent investigation.”

He added: “Rape, or any form of sexual abuse, is not easy to talk about, and especially at such a young age this must have been incredibly daunting for her. Despite facing someone five years older than her, she took the correct steps in saying no when she was not comfortable with the situation, pleading with Richard to stop. He, however, continued regardless to satisfy his own needs.”

Detective Sergeant Pocock highlighted that the victim showed remarkable bravery by speaking out, first to a friend and then to police, ensuring action could be taken against Richards.

He continued: “Our specialist staff explored the victim’s account thoroughly, and were able to help prove the case through DNA and digital forensic evidence. The strength of this evidence undoubtedly resulted in this early guilty plea, and spared the victim the additional trauma of the case going to trial.”

The detective emphasised the importance of education around consent and online safety: “I feel it is important to highlight that the victim of this case could not provide consent due to her age, and that this case highlights the vital importance of having conversations about staying safe online, the law and consent with young people. This includes how to give consent, how not to assume consent, and what to do if someone continues with sexual activity despite a lack of consent.”

Detective Sergeant Pocock concluded: “I also hope this case demonstrates that our specialist officers will listen to, support and seek justice for victims of all ages who may be subject to sexual abuse.”