Newport Woman Jailed for Breaching Order in Teen Abuse Case

A Newport woman has been imprisoned for breaking a court order by contacting a teenager she previously groomed and assaulted.

Phoebe Pearce, 25, was sentenced to 17 months in jail after messaging the girl on social media platforms following her initial conviction for grooming, abduction and sexual activity with a child.

The court heard that Pearce had originally met the 14-year-old victim through Facebook and pursued a relationship despite warnings from the girl’s mother. Text messages revealed Pearce’s dismissive attitude, telling a friend the girl was “youngish but I don’t care”.

During the initial hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Jenkins noted: “You did not stop, you persisted despite the mother’s protestations. A relationship developed and some sexual activity took place.”

After receiving a three-year community order and sexual harm prevention order, Pearce breached the conditions by attempting to add the victim on Twitch and Snapchat after her 16th birthday.

Recorder David Harris, delivering the latest sentence, said: “You met a child following a series of sexual grooming and disobeyed the orders made against you.”

A renewed five-year sexual harm prevention order has been imposed.