Man Jailed for Grooming Schoolgirl and Getting Her Pregnant

A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to 45 months in prison after sexually grooming a schoolgirl and getting her pregnant, Swansea Crown Court heard.

Liam Peat lied about not knowing the child’s real age – a lie he maintained until the first day of trial when his young victim arrived at court to give evidence against him.

The court heard that Peat began chatting to the girl on Snapchat when she was just 13 and he was 19. Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas said the pair began meeting in secret and the child started “confiding” in the defendant about matters in her life, with “a level of trust” established between them.

As matters progressed, communications became sexual, with Peat asking for intimate pictures and sending a video of himself masturbating. He would tell the girl to delete messages between them.

The court heard they had sexual intercourse on numerous occasions when she was aged 14 and 15, with protection rarely used. It was the prosecution case that Peat “groomed and manipulated” the girl.

The offending culminated in the child becoming pregnant and telling her mother, leading to police involvement.

In a victim statement read to court, the complainant said what Peat did had a “massive effect” on her life. She said he made her feel “worthless” to the point she no longer wanted to be around, but added: “While I would have to live with the horror of what he did, I was not going to let it take over my life.”

Peat, of Heol y Graig, Crynant, Neath, pleaded guilty on the day of trial to two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. Defence barrister Matt Murphy said the defendant accepted immediate custody was the only sentence available.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said when Peat had been “to all intents and purposes” a man, he had sexually groomed a child after “inveigling” himself into her life. He noted there was now “some regret” but said it would carry more weight if it hadn’t come so late when the complainant had prepared to be cross-examined.

Peat will serve up to half his sentence in custody before being released on licence. He will be a registered sex offender for life and was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.