Matthew Cai Pritchard

A 24-year-old man from Caergeiliog, North Wales, has been imprisoned for grooming and sexually exploiting a vulnerable teenage girl. Matthew Cai Pritchard, residing at Dol Eithin, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexual communication with a child.

The offences occurred when Pritchard was aged 18 to 19. He initiated contact with the victim, who was between 13 and 16 years old, through social media messages. This online grooming quickly escalated to in-person meetings, during which Pritchard provided the girl with alcohol before engaging in sexual intercourse with her. Additionally, he manipulated her into posing for intimate photographs, further exploiting her vulnerability.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Rhys Rowlands imposed a four-year custodial sentence on Pritchard. In recognition of the serious nature of the crimes, he was also subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order designed to protect the victim indefinitely. The case was investigated by North Wales Police, with Detective Constable Sarah Jones commenting on the profound impact of Pritchard's actions: “Pritchard groomed and manipulated a vulnerable young girl when he was himself an adult. This experience has had a devastating impact on the victim’s life. She has been incredibly brave to report what happened to her and I hope this sentencing will provide her with the reassurance to move forward.”

The prosecution highlighted the predatory behaviour exhibited by Pritchard, who took advantage of the significant age gap and the girl's youth to perpetrate these sexual offences. North Wales Police emphasised their commitment to safeguarding children, noting that the victim's courage in coming forward was instrumental in securing the conviction. This case serves as a stark reminder of the long-term harm caused by child sexual exploitation, with authorities continuing to urge victims to report such abuses regardless of when they occurred.