A man from Neath has been sentenced to prison after admitting to grooming and sexually exploiting a schoolgirl, leading to her pregnancy. Liam Peat, aged 25, targeted the victim when she was just 13 years old, using the Snapchat messaging app to build a relationship of trust before escalating to sexual communications and physical encounters.
Swansea Crown Court heard that Peat, then 19, began chatting with the girl in secret. As described by prosecutor Dyfed Thomas, the pair met multiple times, with the girl confiding in Peat about her life, establishing a false sense of security. Communications soon turned sexual, with Peat requesting intimate pictures from the victim and sending her a video of himself masturbating. He instructed her to delete messages to cover his tracks. The offending progressed to sexual intercourse on several occasions when the girl was 14 and 15, often without protection, which the prosecution argued was a clear case of grooming and manipulation.
The exploitation culminated in the victim becoming pregnant, prompting her to tell her mother and notify the police. Initially, Peat attended a voluntary interview and answered 'no comment' to all questions. At the time, the girl felt unable to pursue a formal complaint, leading to no immediate action. However, in April 2023, she contacted authorities to proceed. Upon arrest, Peat claimed in a prepared statement that the activity was consensual and that he believed she was of college age, a claim he maintained until the trial day.
The victim provided a powerful statement read in court, detailing the profound impact of Peat's actions. She described feeling 'worthless' to the point of not wanting to be around, yet resolved not to let the 'horror' define her life. Judge Paul Thomas KC condemned Peat for inveigling himself into the child's life as an adult, noting his regret came too late, only after the victim arrived prepared to testify.
Peat, of Heol y Graig, Crynant, Neath, pleaded guilty on the day of trial to two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. Despite no prior convictions—only cautions for battery—his defence, led by Matt Murphy, acknowledged immediate custody was inevitable, attributing the behaviour to Peat's immaturity and ADHD. With a 10 per cent discount for the late pleas, he received 45 months in prison, serving half in custody before release on licence. He will be on the sex offenders' register for life and subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
This case, reported by Wales Online and sourced from Swansea Crown Court proceedings on 4 September 2025, highlights the dangers of online grooming and the long-term trauma inflicted on young victims.