Home / Crime and Justice / Sex Offender Jailed After Daring Sea Escape Attempt
Sex Offender Jailed After Daring Sea Escape Attempt
3 Sep
Summary
- Gavin Bennett, 45, fled from police into the sea.
- He was apprehended by officers wading into the water at night.
- Bennett received a three-year, eight-month prison sentence.
A man attempting to escape police custody by fleeing into the sea has been sentenced to prison. Gavin Bennett, aged 45, ran into the water near Porthcawl in Bridgend County on the night of October 22, 2025.
Two police officers were captured on video wading into the Bristol Channel with torches to apprehend Bennett. He was subsequently charged with two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, stemming from inappropriate messages sent to a girl he believed to be underage.
Bennett pleaded guilty to these charges at Cardiff Crown Court. On Tuesday, he received a sentence of three years and eight months. This sentence also encompassed two counts of sexually assaulting a female, related to a separate incident that occurred over a two-year period. Additionally, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed.
