Samuel Hyde – Lytham St Annes

A man who was already banned from speaking to children without supervision travelled from Lancashire to South Wales, where he s*xually assaulted a young girl.

Samuel Hyde, 35, of Fairhaven Road, Lytham St Annes, has been jailed for four years, with a further four years on extended licence.

Hyde had been messaging the girl for around a week in late June before travelling to a village in the Rhondda on 30 June to try to meet her. It was there that he s*xually assaulted her.

The girl managed to escape and call for help. Police found Hyde shortly afterwards and arrested him. He was carrying a knife.

At the time, Hyde was already subject to a S*xual Harm Prevention Order imposed at Preston Crown Court in November 2019. It prohibited him from speaking to any child under 16 without supervision.

At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Thursday, 29 October, Hyde indicated guilty pleas to:

???? S*xual assault of a girl under 13 by touching
???? S*xual communication with a child
???? Breaching a S*xual Harm Prevention Order
???? Possessing a knife in a public place

The young girl’s courage in escaping and raising the alarm brought the ordeal to an end. Our thoughts are with her and everyone affected.