He used alcohol to 'groom' a teenage girl before having sex with her
Pritchard, of Dol Eithin, Caergeiliog, admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child and one of sexual communication with a child. Myles Wilson, prosecuting, said the offending started when Pritchard, aged 24, was aged 18 to 19 and the victim was aged 13.
He added the victim on the Snapchat social media platform days before her 14th birthday, and they sent each other sexual photos before meeting up on a beach on Anglesey. He gave her alcohol before having sex with her.
Mr Wilson said this was reported to police, but the defendant told the victim to deny it, and to delete messages between them. He continued to see the victim.
He supplied her with alcohol, but would take cannabis himself and would also make her pose for sexual photos and would send her images of himself engaged in a sexual act. During that time they had sex.
Mr Wilson said the victim, who cannot be identified, described the defendant as "jealous and controlling". He said: "He would tell her she wasn't allowed to meet her friends and would monitor her social media."
The court heard Pritchard had no previous convictions and had committed no offences since.
Richard Edwards, defending, said he admitted the offences at an early stage, he was young at the time of the offences, which had happened a number of years ago.
He had been suffering mental health issues and it was a "lonely period" of his life, when he was vulnerable. He said he knows it was "stupid, selfish and wrong".
Pritchard was hard working, was now a duty manager at a Premier Inn and in a stable four-year relationship, with his partner and five-month-old child and they would lose their rented home if he was imprisoned. He had moved on from the offences which had happened a number of years ago, had matured and was assessed as a low level of risk of reoffending.
Judge Nicola Jones said the defendant was "fully aware of her age". She said: "You filmed her having intercourse and made her pose for photos." She said the defendant had used alcohol in "grooming her".
The judge added: "This has had a devastating effect on her life. She now suffers from severe psychological harm and has anti-depressants for anxiety and depression and is having to go through therapy."
Taking into account his age, his immaturity and that he was suffering a mental disorder at the time, Judge Jones sentenced Pritchard to a total of four years in prison, with half to be served in custody and half on licence.
He was also given an indefinite notification requirement, an indefinite sexual harm prevention order with conditions and an indefinite restraining order from contacting the victim. A deprivation order was also made for any devices seized during the investigation.
Pritchard must also pay a statutory surcharge. The victim was directed to a compensation authority.
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