Locations
Heol Y Graig, Crynant, Neath, SA10
Description
A man sexually groomed a schoolgirl and got her pregnant, a court has heard. Liam Peat then lied about not knowing the real age of the child, a lie he maintained until the first day of trial when his young victim turned up at court to give evidence against him.
Swansea Crown Court heard that what the defendant did made the complainant feel "worthless" to the point she no longer wanted to be around, but she said that while she would have to "live with the horror" of what happened she was not going to let it take over her life.
Dyfed Thomas, prosecuting, told the court that when Peat began chatting to the girl on Snapchat she was aged 13 and he was 19. He said the pair began to meet in secret and the child started "confiding" in the defendant about matters in her life, establishing a level of trust.
The court heard that as matters progressed, communications became sexual, with Peat asking for intimate pictures and sending her a video of himself masturbating. He would tell the girl to delete messages between them.
The prosecutor said the defendant and complainant had sexual intercourse on a number of occasions when the girl was aged 14 and 15, with protection rarely used. He said it was the prosecution case that Peat "groomed and manipulated" the girl.
The court heard the offending culminated in the child becoming pregnant and telling her mother. Police were notified, and Peat attended a voluntary interview, answering "no comment" to all questions.
The prosecutor said that at the time, the girl did not feel strong enough to make a formal complaint and no further action was taken, but in April 2023 she contacted police to pursue it.
Peat was arrested and in interview gave a prepared statement accepting sexual activity took place on a number of occasions but saying it was always consensual and that the girl had told him she was in college, leading him to believe she was of corresponding age.
In a statement read to the court, the complainant said what the defendant did has had a "massive effect" on her life. She said Peat made her feel "worthless" to the point she no longer wanted to be around, but while she would have to "live with the horror" of what he did she was not going to let it take over her life.
Liam Peat, 25, of Heol y Graig, Crynant, Neath, pleaded guilty on the day of trial to two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. He has no previous convictions but two cautions for battery from incidents on nights out.
Matt Murphy, for Peat, said the defendant accepted immediate custody was the only sentence possible. He said the offending occurred when his client was an immature young man with "difficulties" including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Judge Paul Thomas KC said when Peat had been, to all intents and purposes, a man, he sexually groomed a child after "inveigling" himself into her life. He said while there was now "some regret" from the defendant, it would carry more weight if not so late, when the complainant had come to court prepared for cross-examination.
With a 10 per cent discount for his guilty pleas, Peat was sentenced to 45 months in prison. He will serve up to half in custody before release on licence.
The defendant will be a registered sex offender for life and was made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.