Saltney man sentenced for sexual messages to teenage girl

Jonathan Drinkwater, 43, and of Flint Road, Saltney Ferry, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, August 28.

Drinkwater had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

CPS prosecutor, Niamh Jones, told the court that the two separate incidents – on Tuesday, January 23, and Tuesday, February 27, 2024 – involved the same complainant.

Drinkwater had messaged the complainant on both dates, on the first occasion asking ‘what her bra size was’ and saying that he could ‘probably guess’ the bra size from a picture.

On the second occasion, Drinkwater is said to have asked for a ‘one-off pic’ which the complainant refused to send to him.

The prosecution said that the complainant had ‘had flashbacks’ of the messages and had felt ‘unhappy’ about the defendant contacting her in this way.

Catherine Higham, defending, highlighted that the pre-sentence report indicated the defendant could be managed in the community through a community order.

The offences, Ms Higham said, were triggered by ‘loneliness and isolation’ and that he had lived a ‘secluded’ lifestyle.

Drinkwater was also said to have ‘significant mental health issues’ and was already subject to notification requirements.

Since the incidents, he had made no contact with the complainant which the defence said negated the need for a restraining order – the prosecution added that no contact had been received from the complainant to further the application in any case.

Drinkwater received two concurrent 12-month custodial sentences, suspended for 18 months.

He will also complete 25 rehabilitation requirement days, and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for five years.

He will pay court costs of £85 and a surcharge of £187.