MUM CAUGHT SHOPWORKER GROOMING HER DAUGHTER ONLINE
A court case revealed that a shopworker engaged in grooming a young schoolgirl and coordinated to have her visit his residence for the purpose of performing oral sex on him.The incident was halted when the girl’s mother became aware of the plan, contacted the authorities, and police arrested the man at the designated meeting point.
At Swansea Crown Court, the judge described the evidence as showing the defendant had groomed and manipulated a minor girl.
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue explained that Saravanan was aware the girl was underage, as he had communicated with her multiple times while she was dressed in her school uniform, eventually asking for her phone number.
Although she initially hesitated, she eventually exchanged contact details, initiating conversations on Snapchat and WhatsApp.
During these chats, the girl asked if Saravanan could buy her a cannabis cigarette.
The mother discovered the WhatsApp conversations and, concerned, blocked Saravanan.
Unaware of the Snapchat contact, she did not realise the pair continued to chat there.
In October 2024, Saravanan invited the girl to his Swansea home, and they discussed what they would do together.
During their messaging, the girl expressed willingness to do “anything he wants,” and when asked if that included oral sex, she agreed.
On October 24, as the girl was en route to meet Saravanan, she spoke with her mother on the phone but was vague about her activities.
Sensing something was wrong, the mother used the contact information she had saved from WhatsApp to text Saravanan pretending to be her daughter’s friend.
Saravanan confirmed he was meeting the girl that day, prompting her to alert the police and share the location.
Officers arrived before the girl reached the meeting point and arrested Saravanan.
In her victim impact statement, the girl’s mother described her daughter as trusting and still learning about the world.
She expressed that Saravanan had manipulated a vulnerable child emotionally.
Saravanan, 24, from Russell Street, Swansea, admitted to charges of meeting a girl under 16 for sexual grooming and inciting a minor to engage in sexual activity at his sentencing.
He had no prior convictions.
Defence lawyer Walter Verkaik shared that Saravanan was raised in Chennai, India, and had come to the UK for studies.
The court received character references attesting to his moral character, including one from a university instructor.
Following his conviction, Saravanan’s immigration status in the UK was revoked, and he expressed a desire to return to India soon.
Judge Catherine Richards noted that Saravanan’s actions demonstrated grooming and manipulation of a young girl.
She acknowledged the contrasting character references and the significant change in his future plans.
Given his guilty plea, Saravanan was sentenced to 31 months in prison, with a recommendation that he serve 40% of the sentence in custody before release on licence.
He was also made a lifelong registered sex offender and ordered to abide by a five-year sexual harm prevention order.
