A 19-year-old man has been sentenced after arranging to meet a 13-year-old girl for sexual purposes, only to flee the scene upon realising he was being watched by her friends. Cody Price, from St Mellons in Cardiff, contacted the young girl using the social media platform Snapchat, and despite being told of her age, pursued explicit sexual activity.
The details of the case emerged at Cardiff Crown Court, where the gravity of Price’s actions—and their effect on the teenage victim—were laid bare. According to prosecutor Abigail Jackson, Price initially reached out to the girl on Snapchat. She suspected that he had messaged her accidentally; however, Price later admitted he had deliberately made contact. The girl made it clear she was only 13, but Price then tried to arrange a meeting for oral sex.
Worried by the nature of the messages she had received, the girl confided in older friends about the situation. Together, they orchestrated a plan to accompany her to the meeting spot and confront Price should he attempt anything untoward. On the day of the meeting, Price encouraged the girl to head to a more secluded location. Unbeknownst to him, her friends were hiding nearby.
Price’s behaviour changed suddenly upon noticing the presence of the girl’s friends, who were concealed in bushes. He immediately abandoned the scene, escaping before anything further could take place. The incident left the young teenager shaken and anxious, and these sentiments were later echoed in her victim impact statement presented to the court.
“She was only 13 years old at the time and extremely conscious of the significant age and size difference,” prosecutor Jackson outlined. The statement explained that the girl feared both for her safety and for the consequences of telling others, particularly after Price had attempted to persuade her into silence. The fear and stress of being involved in a criminal trial and having to give evidence in court left the girl anxious and withdrawn, with lasting mistrust towards boys her age.
Despite denying the charge of arranging the commission of a child sex offence, Price was found guilty at trial. But his criminal behaviour did not end there. Price was also dealt with for additional offences, including a burglary in which a car key and a Toyota Yaris were stolen from a Cardiff property on 10 August last year. The vehicle was later found damaged at St Mellons Business Park, with Price identified through mobile phone footage as being behind the wheel.
Further criminal acts came to light, including a burglary three months later involving the theft of a Volkswagen Golf, gaming consoles, and a collection of samurai swords. CCTV evidence linked Price and a co-defendant to the break-in. Price was seen on camera, and when the homeowner—who knew Price personally—attempted to confront him, the defendant replied with a threatening message.
In another separate incident, police attended Price’s residence after a window was reported smashed. Reviewing CCTV, officers observed Price leaving the property carrying a machete and later smashing the windows himself. A search of his home uncovered the weapon hidden behind a washing machine.
Price ultimately entered guilty pleas to several charges including theft, burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a licence or insurance, threatening behaviour, and possession of a bladed article. His defence solicitor, Hilary Roberts, characterised the defendant as immature and easily influenced, pointing to his youth at the time the offending began. The court further heard that Price had a job in roofing lined up for when he is released from custody.
The court subsequently imposed a sentence totalling 22 months of imprisonment. Additional penalties include a restraining order, a requirement to sign the sex offenders register for seven years, and a driving disqualification for 12 months to take effect upon his release.
The distress suffered by the victim highlights the deep impact such cases can have on children. As this court case demonstrates, the justice system continues to take a stringent approach to offences involving sexual exploitation and child protection.