ADRIAN FERNANDEZ GROOMED 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN HAYES AND TRAVELED 175 MILES TO SWANSEA FOR SEX

In November 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving a young man from Hayes who engaged in the grooming of a 14-year-old girl he met online, ultimately traveling a significant distance to carry out a sexual encounter. The incident highlights the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable youth.

Adrian Fernandez, aged 19 at the time, initiated contact with the underage girl through social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram. Fernandez, who resides on Church Road in Hayes, maintained regular messaging with the girl, who was described as vulnerable due to her personal circumstances. Over time, Fernandez built a relationship of trust, sending her various gifts such as makeup and a hoodie. Notably, he included a handwritten note in the hoodie’s pocket, referring to her as his “princess,” which further exemplifies his manipulative grooming behavior.

The court heard that Fernandez’s grooming process was deliberate and calculated. In July 2019, he booked a room at the Dragon Hotel located in Swansea, Wales, where he and the girl met in person. The meeting culminated in them engaging in sexual activity. The prosecution, led by Ashanti-Jade Walton, described Fernandez’s actions as predatory, emphasizing that the girl was described as a “vulnerable young child” by the court due to her personal circumstances and age.

Fernandez’s criminal activities came to light when he was arrested at his home in London in September 2019. During police interviews, Fernandez admitted that he had moved to the UK from India in the summer of 2018. He also revealed that he had downloaded and used the Pickle app, a social platform he employed to meet new people and make friends, which he exploited to target the young girl.

Fernandez, now aged 21, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child. His legal representative, Thomas Davidson, highlighted that Fernandez came from a supportive family environment and suggested that it was unlikely he would reoffend or appear before the courts again. Despite these claims, the court’s judgment was clear that Fernandez’s actions demonstrated a high level of planning, deviousness, and manipulation.

Judge Paul Thomas QC addressed the court, expressing his view that Fernandez attempted to portray himself as a victim, claiming he was “seduced by some sort of young temptress.” However, the judge emphasized that the evidence showed Fernandez had groomed the girl and traveled to Swansea with the sole purpose of engaging in sexual activity. The judge also referenced a letter submitted by Fernandez’s parish priest, which he described as reflecting “more incredulity and naiveté” on Fernandez’s part than on the court’s.

In sentencing Fernandez, the judge took into account his guilty plea, granting a 25 percent reduction in his sentence. Fernandez was sentenced to 30 months in prison, with the understanding that he would serve up to half of that time before being eligible for release on license. Additionally, Fernandez was ordered to be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.