An individual, Jonathan Swift, the Caerphilly paedophile, who had been found guilty of child molestation engaged in sexual assault against a 16-year-old female whom he approached in a public setting. The assault involved the perpetrator groping the victim’s breasts and vagina without consent, as well as forcefully kissing her. Following the attack, he seized her mobile device and inputted his phone number.
Jonathan Swift, aged 34, encountered his juvenile target in Caerphilly at approximately 5:45 pm on April 9th. The plaintiff was unfamiliar with the defendant, who requested a lighter from her. He proceeded to enquire about her relationship status, and upon learning that she was 16 years old, he falsely claimed that she appeared older and deceitfully misrepresented his age.
During a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that Jonathan Swift pursued the victim and forcefully took hold of her hand, subsequently pulling her onto a bench. She attempted to up and depart, but he seized her and bestowed a kiss upon her. The victim repelled him and informed him of her need to return home. The accused forcefully pushed the woman back onto the bench and engaged in a non-consensual kiss, forcefully inserting his tongue into her mouth.
The prosecutor, Ffion Tomos, stated. Jonathan Swift proceeded to place his hands inside her top and fondled her breasts while the victim persisted in resisting. Subsequently, he revealed his genitalia for a duration of two to three minutes and enquired whether the girl would be amenable to relocating to a more secluded location. An individual walking by witnessed the defendant retract his penis.
Subsequently, he inserted his hands inside her trousers and initiated a sexual attack. The victim then characterised the assault as “agonising” and withdrew his hand from her pants. Jonathan Swift invited her to his residence, but she reiterated her desire to return home and attempted to depart.
The defendant persistently attempted to restrain her, enquired about her use of Snapchat, and then forcibly seized her phone to input his mobile device. Finally, the victim fled and alerted others by sending a message to a friend.
Law enforcement was notified, and Jonathan Swift, who resides in Snowden Court, was apprehended the next day and interrogated. During the questioning, he asserted that he was intoxicated and that the sexual encounter was consensual. Subsequently, he admitted his guilt for the charges of assault by penetration and sexual assault.
The court was informed that the defendant was found guilty of committing sexual assault in 2010, during which he assaulted a woman at a bus stop. Subsequently, he violated a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by approaching a 13-year-old individual. In 2017, he received a seven-year prison sentence for engaging in sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 16, with whom he had sexual intercourse in an alleyway. At the time of the latest offence, he was on parole.
During the court proceedings, the 16-year-old victim expressed in their victim’s statement that the experience has had a detrimental impact on their autonomy and self-assurance. Whenever I go out, I always ensure that companions accompany me since I am constantly afraid that the same incident could reoccur at any given moment.
I have entirely lost faith in individuals that I am unfamiliar with. Previously, I could socialise with friends without the concern of being assaulted by an unfamiliar individual. I consistently require engaging myself in activities to divert my attention from the events that transpired during the day.
“Occasionally, while I am at school, I experience a loss of concentration on my academic tasks as my memory involuntarily recalls a distressing event.” The trauma has had a profound impact on my sleep. Prior to going to bed, I experience flashbacks of the incident, causing me to relive the traumatic event vividly.
I am perpetually vigilant and apprehensive of potential assailants, prompting me to glance behind me while I am outside frequently. Every adolescent should be spared from experiencing the same hardships I have endured. I am pleased that the individual responsible for my ordeal is currently incarcerated, and I firmly believe that he should remain there. He poses a significant threat, and I strongly oppose his actions being inflicted upon others.
David Rees stated that his client, Jonathan Swift, was “profoundly regretful” and was under the influence of alcohol at the commission of the act. According to him, the defendant’s status as a convicted sex offender was made public in November of the previous year, resulting in negative consequences such as abuse and threats.
In determining and imposing a punishment for a crime, Judge Lucy Crowther stated that the individual lacks comprehension regarding the consequences of their unlawful actions. You said that you do not experience any sexual attraction towards young females despite your history of engaging in offensive behaviour. You have attempted to downplay and rationalise your actions on this occasion in the same manner that you have done previously…
“You are an individual who engages in sexual predation, and you present a substantial danger of causing severe harm to individuals in the general population, particularly underage girls and young adult women… You are a highly hazardous criminal.
Jonathan Swift received a sentence of eight years in jail and an additional six-year period of supervised release. He will serve 2/3 of the jail term before being eligible for parole. The defendant was additionally subjected to a restraining order for 30 years. Furthermore, the defendant is obligated to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and lifelong sex offender notification obligations.
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