Man attempted sex with girl, 16, after text swap

A MAN has admitted trying to have sex with a girl aged under 16 after the pair swapped 1,200 text messages — many of a sexual nature.

Magistrates in Carmarthen heard how, after they had kissed, 29-year-old David Benjamin Bailey sent the girl a message on her mobile phone saying: "I know today is weird. It feels wrong..."

The court heard he had also asked her for naked pictures but she had refused.

He was arrested after the girl told her friends — who in turn told their parents and the girl's mother.

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Bailey, of Royal Oak Terrace, Johnstown, appeared in court in Carmarthen on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to arranging sexual activity with a child and to touching a girl aged under 16.

Messages

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan said Bailey and the girl had been exchanging messages saying what they would do to each other if they were alone. "She was scared about the content of the messages," Ms Morgan said.

She said the pair later kissed.

"It was a long and passionate kiss. He touched her while that kiss was going, touching her right breast," she said.

"He also grabbed her bottom."

At police interview, Bailey said he was too weak to stop what was happening.

"He said she wanted it and he had caved in to what she wanted," Ms Morgan added.

"He said she threatened to tell people about what was going on.

"He admitted he had asked her for naked pictures of herself, knowing she would not do that."

Defence solicitor Mike Reed said Bailey had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He said Bailey, who works in the financial sector, was depressed at the time because of the breakdown of his marriage earlier this year.

"It was when his wife left him that his problems began," he said. "Since he was a teenager, he has suffered from depression."

Clothed

He said they were both fully clothed when the offences took place.

The case against Bailey was adjourned for sentencing and magistrates opted to send the matter to Crown Court, which has greater powers.

He will appear at Swansea Crown Court on November 2.

Bailey was released on bail on condition that he does not approach prosecution witnesses or approach any child aged under 16.

He must also co-operate with the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report.