A man who sexually assaulted a teenage girl and downloaded indecent images of children has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison by Guernsey’s Royal Court.
Jacob Brady (23) had pleaded guilty to 10 offences, including the serious sexual touching of a 14-year-old girl while he was in a position of trust.
Brady, who was 22 at the time he committed his crimes, had also downloaded more than 20 indecent images of children, including two category A images – the most serious.
None of the images were of the girl he assaulted.
Judge Catherine Fooks heard Brady had groomed his victim, sending her sexually suggestive messages on Snapchat. He also invited her on an overnight camping trip to Herm, which was vetoed by another adult on safeguarding grounds.
The court heard Brady had intentionally sexually touched the girl without her consent while they were inside his car, at two separate St Peter Port locations on the evening of 8 September 2024.
After he had assaulted her, Brady messaged the girl to warn her to “keep her mouth shut”.
‘Betrayed’
The girl had been “physically sick” when she returned home after the sexual assaults.
A powerful victim impact statement read to the court described how Brady’s actions had “torn the family apart”, leaving the girl feeling “betrayed”.
Brady, who met the girl through a sports activity he helped run, had been “trusted by [the girl] and her family”.
She went from being “the happiest we’d ever seen her” to having “spiralling anxiety”, struggling with eating, and feeling unable to leave the house, spend time with friends, or even walk down her own street.
It had also “tainted” her relationship with a sports activity she had previously enjoyed as one of her main hobbies.
‘Should have been able to trust him’
Brady, a former Elizabeth College student and Lieutenant-Governor’s Cadet with an engineering degree, was described as being of previously good character. He had complied with all the conditions of his bail, the Royal Court heard.
He had received positive character references from his family, fiancée, and friends.
Summing up, Judge Fooks said the girl “should have been able to trust” Brady, but he had misused his position to get close to her and her family.
While his crimes passed the “custody threshold” by some margin, Judge Fooks said Brady showed “genuine remorse” and a willingness to seek treatment.
This – along with other factors – meant the court had chosen to “keep the sentences to a minimum”, rather than award the maximum sentence of 14-years for the two most serious offences.
Brady was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for the five counts of sexual touching of a child under 16, and a further six months in prison to run consecutively for five counts of possession of indecent images of children.
His hard drive and iPad will also be destroyed.
‘You are not alone’
Guernsey Police commended the girl’s “bravery in coming forward” after Brady was sentenced.
A statement from the family shared by police said nothing could “undo the harm that was caused” to their daughter and the “profound” impact on her mental health.
“We continue to support her as she rebuilds her sense of safety, confidence and wellbeing,” they said.
The victim’s family thanked Guernsey Police, the Reparative Care Team, and the Victim Support and Witness Service who had “provided vital care, guidance and reassurance during an incredibly difficult period”.
They said they hoped “the perpetrator uses his time in custody to reflect on the harm he has caused and to engage with any support offered to him, so that he can rehabilitate and rebuild his life after serving his sentence”.
“Finally, we want to send a clear message to other victims of sexual crime in Guernsey: you are not alone, and you should not be afraid to come forward,” the family said.
“Support is available, you will be listened to, and you will be treated with care, dignity and respect.”
