Female predator who abducted and sexually assaulted girl is jailed

A female predator who abducted and sexually assaulted a schoolgirl after grooming her on Facebook has been jailed for a court order breach.

Phoebe Pearce, 25, met the 14-year-old girl two years ago through the social media site and was warned off by the teenager's mother.

But Pearce became 'infatuated' and lured the girl away from her home and performed sexual activity with her while on police bail in Wales.

She admitted grooming, abduction and sexual activity with a child in September 2022 at Cardiff Crown Court- but walked away free with an order not to contact the girl. 

Sentencing her, the judge said: 'You knew what you were doing was wrong but you carried on doing it.' 

Pearce had even texted a friend about the girl saying: 'She's youngish but I don't care.'

Judge Jeremy Jenkins told her: 'These are very serious matters - you met the child in question as a result of online activity.

'The relationship between you quickly turned into a sexual one.

'You went to the house on a number of occasions and the girl's mother told you directly you should not continue the relationship with her.

'You did not stop, you persisted despite the mother's protestations.. A relationship developed and some sexual activity took place.

'You knew what you were doing was wrong but you carried on doing it.'

The court heard that police found text messaged from Pearce's mobile about the victim, stating: 'She's youngish but I don't care.'

The judge added: 'Following a report from the girl's mother you were arrested having taken the girl from her home and you were found in a park.

'I am satisfied that having met the girl you became infatuated with her very quickly.

'You ignored every piece of advice and every order you were made subject to and that culminated in the abduction.'

At the time, Pearce was sentenced to a three-year community order and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years with the condition not to contact her victim.

But a court heard she messaged the girl after her 16th birthday - asking her to add her on gaming site Twitch and on her new Snapchat account.

When the teenager's mother found out she told the police - leading to Pearce to be arrested and remanded in custody.

She admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order at Newport Crown Court.

Judge, Recorder David Harris told Pearce: 'You met a child following a series of sexual grooming and disobeyed the orders made against you.'

Pearce, of Harlequin Drive in Newport, was jailed for 17 months and issued a renewed five-year sexual harm prevention order.

She is set to be released in early January next year.