A 19-YEAR-OLD woman from Presteigne has been jailed for three years for sexual assaulting a baby.
Following a complex and protracted investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police, the woman appeared before Merthyr Crown Court on February 25 and pleaded guilty to sexual assault by penetration, of a seven-month-old baby girl.
The offence was described by officers involved as one of the worst they have had to deal with, especially as the victim was only seven months old.
The 19-year-old female from Presteigne cannot be named for legal reasons.
Speaking about the case, Powys Superintendent Huw Meredith said: “From the outset, this was a complex investigation and required tenacity and a thorough investigation to get the required result.
“The case was led by Detective Constable Jeff Hurford, who works for the Child Protection Unit in Newtown – and he displayed a high degree of commitment and professionalism, which no doubt had an impact in the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to take action against the defendant.
“It was thanks to the dedication of DC Hurford and his team, who ensured the gathering of compelling evidence in building such a robust case, which led to an early guilty plea.”