A NEATH man has been jailed for sexual offences against a teenage girl. The offences, which took place in October, relate to an incident involving a teenage girl he had messaged on Snapchat.
Rhodri Griffiths, 28, appeared at Newport Crown Court on Thursday 22 February where he was sentenced for several counts of sexual assault:
- Sexual activity with a child
- Rape
- Assault by penetration
- Sexual assault
Officers believe there may be more victims and are appealing for anyone who believes they might also be a victim of this man to come forward.
We know that he has added and messaged girls on Snapchat in the past using fake usernames – often using the name ‘James.’
In this case, he messaged the girl on Snapchat, drove to her home address and took her to a secluded hospital car park where the offences took place.
Detective Constable Georgia Dunne, the officer in the case, said: “We’d like to thank the victim and witnesses for coming forward and reporting the incident to the police. They have shown tremendous bravery and resilience throughout the investigation and the subsequent court process.
“Rhodri Griffiths is a dangerous man, and we welcome the sentence provided by the courts and hope that he uses this time to reflect on his actions.”
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Sedgebeer, the senior investigating officer, said: “The behaviour displayed by Rhodri Griffiths suggests that there could be more victims who may not have come forward.
“We hope this outcome shows anyone who is a victim of sexual assault that they will be listened to, believed and respected. We take all allegations very seriously and if a report is made to us, we investigate it thoroughly.
“We want to reassure anyone considering doing so that there is a whole range of support out there; not only from Gwent Police but from partner agencies who can help you through the entire process.”
Griffiths was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison extended by five years.
