Police officer guilty of sexually abusing girl

A Gwent police officer has been found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl under the age of 13.

John Stringer, 42, from Cardiff, appeared tearful in the dock as he was found guilty of five counts of sexual abuse.

They included two counts of sexual assault by touching and one charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court also found Stringer guilty of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch a sexual act, by a majority of 10 to two.

Stringer was remanded into custody to be sentenced on 28 October.

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The offences were carried out between December 2019 and July 2021, when Stringer was off-duty.

He was arrested after the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, revealed the abuse to a teaching assistant in school.

Stringer touched the girl, who was known to him, inappropriately under a blanket, showed her a pornographic video and then made her act out what she had been shown, the court heard.

During the girl’s police interview she told officers that Stringer’s sexual touching made her feel "wrong" but that he had warned her not to tell her parents because he would "get into a lot of trouble and it would all be my fault".

She also said she felt "very uncomfortable" when he showed her pornography.

In her evidence she added: "You know when people tell you to do something, when you know it's wrong but they say it's right."

The court heard that there was a break in the abuse due to the Covid-19 lockdowns but it resumed when restrictions eased.

Stringer admitted to “regularly” watching pornography and analysis of his iPhone found that around one in every five internet searches over a five-year period was to access explicit images and videos.

He also accessed information pages on his mobile phone about the effects of masturbation on stress, anxiety, focus, concentration, mood, sleep and hormones.

Stringer told the court he had been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition and had been researching online whether masturbating would help.

He told the victim that touching herself would calm her and help her sleep, she told police.

Prosecutor Ian Wright said Stringer had been "tailoring his evidence" to fit with what the investigation had uncovered and told him: "You are making it up as you go along."

Stringer, who was suspended by Gwent Police following the allegations, joined the force in 2010 and said he had a "good record" during 14 years of service.

He was described in character references in court as "caring", "trustworthy" and "honest".

The jury at his first trial in August 2023 failed to reach a verdict but this time, it took the jury of nine men and three women just under seven and a half hours to find Stringer guilty on all counts.

He was refused bail and was told by judge Daniel Williams he would be going to prison for his crimes - which he will be sentenced for on 28 October.

Gwent Police's Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend described the offences as "sickening".

In a statement, Ms Townsend said: "These are some of the most heinous crimes that we as a police service are dedicated in investigating, his offending is a betrayal of his role as an officer.

"We'd like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case, speaking out about such horrific abuse is hard and we understand the further impact of going through the court process will have."

Ms Townsend added that Mr Stringer remains suspended while the service will "rapidly progress appropriate misconduct proceedings".

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