A judge told 28-year-old Chloe Short that her behaviour had been ‘very inappropriate’
A support worker had a “sexualised kiss” with a vulnerable 15-year-old boy she was supposed to be helping, a court has heard. Chloe Short also engaged in text conversations with the child during which the pair expressed their love for each other. A judge told the defendant her behaviour had been “very inappropriate” and that she had rejected the trust which had been placed in her by virtue of her job.
Ian Wright, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that Short was working for an organisation which provided support for families and children in need of assistance, and as such was “in a position of considerable trust”
He said the defendant was assigned to support a vulnerable 15-year-old boy and carried out a series of home visits which led to “communication with him” in a “wholly inappropriate manner”. The court heard that in the messages the defendant and the child said they loved each other, and Short told the teenager she “missed him every second” and was “obsessed with him”. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.
The matter came to light when Short’s girlfriend became suspicious about her behaviour and looked through her phone. After finding messages on the device the woman alerted Short’s employers who then contacted the police. An investigation was launched during which a short video recorded on a phone was recovered showing the defendant and the boy kissing.
The court heard that the teenager had not provided an account of what happened between him and the defendant and has “never co-operated” with the prosecution.
Chloe Short, aged 28, of Sycamore Court, Bargoed, had previously pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child when she appeared in the dock for sentencing. She has no previous convictions.
Rose Glanville, for Short, said the defendant had not entered upon her chosen career in the support sector in order to exploit the access it afforded but rather “in a flawed attempt to repair the damage from her childhood”. She said her client realises she will never again be allowed to work with vulnerable young people.
The barrister said the pre-sentence report had identified the offending as “situational” and driven by “trauma bonding” rather than any other motivation, and she invited the court to find that immediate custody would have a significant impact on the defendant’s daughter and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in the community.
Judge Huw Rees told the defendant she had been placed in a position of trust with a child and had “rejected” that trust and engaged in a “sexualised kiss”, albeit one which was brief. He said matters had been “nipped in the bud” thanks to the suspicions of the defendant’s girlfriend. The judge described Short’s actions as “very inappropriate”.
With a 20 per cent discount for her guilty pleas Short was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and a mental health treatment requirement. She must also do 150 hours of unpaid work in the community. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for the next 10 years and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time.
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