A serving police officer has been accused of sexually assaulting a young girl and showing her pornographic videos, a court in Cardiff has heard. Gwent Police officer John Stringer, 41, from Cardiff, is facing five charges related to the sexual abuse of a child between 2019 and 2021, all of which he denies.
The allegations include two counts of sexual assault by touching, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act. The court heard that Stringer allegedly made more than 4,000 searches for porn sites on his phone and would show the victim explicit videos.
During a video interview with police, the victim stated that she had been sexually abused by the defendant, who allegedly touched her inappropriately and exposed her to pornographic material. Stringer reportedly warned the girl not to reveal this to anyone, threatening that it would be her fault if he got into trouble.
Prosecutor Ian Wright told the court that Stringer had an “unhealthy fixation” with the victim, portraying himself as lonely and wanting a girlfriend. The prosecution also revealed that Stringer spent a significant amount of time watching pornography, with over 4,000 searches related to explicit content found on his phone.
In his defense, Stringer claimed that the material he accessed was legal adult porn, and he viewed it only in private. He denied showing the victim any inappropriate videos and emphasized that no indecent images of children were found on his device.
The trial at Cardiff Crown Court continues, with the prosecution arguing that Stringer is guilty of all charges. The defense maintained that the case relies solely on the testimony of one person and questioned the reliability of the victim’s account.
The court is yet to reach a verdict as the trial unfolds, shedding light on the disturbing allegations against the police officer. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals and holding accountable those who breach the trust placed in them.