ROGER SEATH CAUGHT IN SOUTHSEA AFTER ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In February 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded in the seaside town of Southsea, Hampshire, when a teenage girl narrowly escaped an attempted abduction by a man identified as Roger Seath, aged 45. The young girl, just 14 years old, was approached and cornered against a wall by Seath, who then threatened her with physical harm, specifically warning he would 'spank' her if she refused to go with him.

Despite the threatening situation, the girl demonstrated quick thinking and presence of mind. She managed to take a photograph of her attacker, a move that proved crucial in her rescue. Her actions drew the attention of a passing motorist, who was driving through Southsea at the time. Recognizing the distress and danger the girl was in, the driver confronted Seath, effectively intervening just as the situation was escalating.

Terrified and tearful, the girl was led to safety by the vigilant motorist, who then contacted the police. When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, Seath was present and made a startling statement, admitting guilt by saying, 'Guilty as charged.'

Legal proceedings revealed that the girl’s mother had advised her to photograph any stranger who approached her, a precaution that likely prevented a more tragic outcome. The court heard that Seath had been caught on camera engaging in disturbing behavior, including filming two schoolgirls on the streets of Southsea. In footage presented during the trial, Seath is seen commenting on the girls, saying, 'The smaller one is cuter though, the 14-year-old wasn’t interested, I offered her 20 quid and everything,' before concluding with, 'I’m going to have to go now, that’s all you’re getting.' It was also noted that Seath appeared to be recording while possibly speaking on the phone, adding to the unsettling nature of his actions.

Further investigation uncovered that Seath possessed a significant number of illicit images and videos. Police found around 300 images of schoolgirls sourced from social media sites, along with videos in which he was discreetly filming young girls on city streets. Disturbingly, videos showed him following and recording schoolgirls, with one clip capturing him saying, 'The smaller one is cuter though, the 14-year-old wasn’t interested, I offered her 20 quid and everything.'

In addition to these recordings, police discovered that Seath had conducted over 4,200 internet searches within a single week—averaging approximately 600 searches per day—most of which related to teenage girls. His phone contained explicit content and evidence of his predatory behavior.

Seath was charged and pleaded guilty to attempted abduction with intent to commit a sexual offence, as well as possessing a bladed knife in a public place. His sentencing resulted in a prison term of 33 months. Furthermore, he is required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and is subject to a lifetime order that restricts his access to children. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170, ensuring some measure of restitution for the distress caused by his actions.