A man was discovered in a hotel bed with a 15-year-old schoolgirl he had met on a messaging app, as revealed in court. The teenager had travelled over 150 miles from her home to be with the defendant. Swansea Crown Court was informed that the girl initially claimed to be 16 when communicating with the defendant, even impersonating her mother in text conversations – but disclosed her true age a few days before their planned gathering in Wales. The defendant’s barrister asserted that the teenage girl had misled the 24-year-old client, describing the case as “unique.”
Prosecutor Robin Rouch outlined that Jack Bendle and the girl connected on Snapchat in October 2023, leading to an “online relationship” between them. The girl misrepresented her age to Bendle, who believed her assertions, with exchanges involving her posing as her mother discussing Bendle’s relationship with her “daughter” and the prospect of him visiting them. On October 30, the girl informed her mother she was visiting friends in Wales, subsequently boarding a train to Swansea, where she met Bendle and accompanied him to a Premier Inn. After a couple of days, the girl’s mother realised her daughter was missing and alerted the authorities.
Police inquiries directed them to the Premier Inn, where at 2 am, officers found Bendle and the teenager together in a hotel room. Upon inspecting Bendle’s phone, officers discovered two images of him holding the teenager’s bare breasts. During interviews, Bendle chose to remain silent. Bendle, from Neath Road, Briton Ferry, had earlier pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and possession of indecent images. Despite crossing the custody threshold, Bendle’s lack of prior convictions, genuine regret, and circumstances outlined in the pre-sentence report led the court to suspend his 18-month prison sentence for two years, mandating him to undertake rehabilitation and community work.
Bendle was ordered to register as a sex offender for a decade. The court refrained from imposing a sexual harm prevention order, as deemed unnecessary by the prosecution. Bendle’s defence highlighted his belief in a consensual relationship with a 16-year-old, sanctioned by her parents, until learning her true age shortly before the trip. The barrister explained Bendle’s care responsibilities for his father and his remorse, advocating for a suspended sentence due to the unique circumstances. Recorder Aidan Eardley KC acknowledged Bendle’s misconceptions, leading to his conviction for the offences committed. Victim support services are available to assist those affected by similar issues.