CHARLES BROMLEY FROM SWANSEA JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SWANSEA AND SKETTY
In September 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving a young woman from Swansea who was targeted and sexually exploited by a university student.Charles Bromley, aged 21 and residing in Sketty, Swansea, was brought before the court to face serious charges related to grooming and sexual assault of a minor.
The court proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several months.
According to court records, Bromley's grooming began around September 2018, shortly after the victim, a 12-year-old girl, created a profile on the dating application OkCupid.
Bromley, who was at the time employed at Plantasia Zoo, initiated contact with her through the app.
He requested her Instagram handle under the pretense of wanting to follow her, and it was established that her profile clearly indicated her age as 12.
Her profile also included photographs of her dressed in her school uniform, which added to the gravity of the situation.
The initial conversations between Bromley and the young girl were relatively innocent, primarily conducted via Snapchat.
They maintained a friendly tone, with Bromley claiming to be pursuing a master's degree in zoology and expressing a desire to work with animals.
During their exchanges, Bromley appeared to offer emotional support, listening to her talk about her struggles with mental health and her repeated attempts to run away from home.
These conversations were intense, often lasting more than six hours each day, sometimes even longer.
As their communication progressed, Bromley gradually introduced sexual comments into their dialogue, which culminated in the victim sending a graphic image of herself to him.
After approximately two weeks of messaging, Bromley suggested they meet in person.
The following Saturday afternoon, they arranged to meet at Singleton Park in Swansea.
They then went together to Denny's, a fast-food restaurant located in Parc Tawe Retail Park.
Bromley later invited her to his shared student accommodation in Sketty, where they watched two films.
After the second film, Bromley extended an invitation for her to stay overnight, which she accepted.
Following their initial meeting, Bromley's messages became increasingly sexual in nature.
This escalation led the victim to send another explicit image of herself.
The pair arranged to meet again, and this time they returned to Bromley's shared house.
There, Bromley engaged in sexual activity with the girl.
The police were alerted to the situation and arrested Bromley on the same day they interviewed the victim.
He was subsequently released on bail.
In May 2020, Bromley was formally charged with attempted sexual intercourse with a child under 13 and sexual assault of a minor.
The legal proceedings culminated in his sentencing, which occurred 19 months after the initial charges.
Bromley received a four-year extended sentence, consisting of three years in custody and an additional year on licence, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for ongoing supervision after his release.
