Sex offender ran into sea at Porthcawl to escape officers during arrest

A sex offender who ran into the sea to escape being arrested has been jailed, South Wales Police has said.

Gavin Bennett, 45, ran into the water off Porthcawl, Bridgend County, at night after sending inappropriate messages to a girl he believed to be under 16.

In a video, two officers are seen wading into the Bristol Channel with torches at about 21:45 on 22 October 2025 and pulling Bennett out.

He was charged with two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The force said he pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court, and was sentenced on Tuesday to three years and eight months, and handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

The sentence also covered two counts of sexually assaulting a female, relating to a separate incident spanning two years.

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