RUGBY COACH SENT TEENS SEX MESSAGES
THE Welsh Rugby Union helped police investigate a coach caught asking young players in his schoolgirl team for sex after training sessions.
James Dowle, 25, groomed two underage girls with sex chats after coaching under-15 and under-18 female teams.
Cardiff Crown Court yesterday heard he abused his post to contact girls for sex chats.
Claire Pickthall, prosecuting, said: “His messages to the 13-yearold victim were discovered when her mother confiscated her mobile phone. She became aware of sexual messages between Dowle and her daughter which started on Facebook Messenger.
“It was classic grooming behaviour. Dowle would ask the teenager what pictures she had on Instagram. He told her that he had pictures of himself in his feed. He asked her what she had done in a sexual sense. He told her, ‘ We should get it on’.”
The court heard messages were sent where Dowle made sexual advances towards his victim.
The victim’s terrified mother contacted the police after discovering the messages and Dowle was arrested the following day.
The court heard the coach, from Nelson, Caerphilly, was also fired from his role when the allegations came to light and an investigation launched.
A second teenage victim was soon identified when a concerned mother came forward.
Miss Pickthall said: “The 14-year-old victim began texting Dowle during a disagreement with her mother. The mother told her she was not to contact Dowle even if it was just about rugby. She later confessed to her mother that there had been an exchange of sexual messages and that she had ‘done stuff’.”
The court heard the messages started innocently but “quickly turned to sexual matters”.
Dowle was arrested in January 2019 and accepted sending messages to both his young victims.
In a statement read to the court, one victim said: “This situation has affected me in many ways.
“I am anxious and cautious around older males and don’t feel comfortable around them.”
Dowle admitted six counts of sexual communication with the two girls.
Andrew Davies, defending, said: “To a certain degree there does seem to have been some immaturity by the defendant.
“He is a young man with potential. He is a young man who always sought to work on a sports field.
“He has ruined his life and he accepts that that is his own fault.”
Dowle was jailed for 38 weeks, suspended for two years.
Judge Rhys Rowlands said: “As a grown man, you behaved in a wholly inappropriate way with two young girls.
“You came to know them at their local rugby club, where you were one of the coaches. As such, your behaviour clearly involved a breach of trust.
“It has had a profound impact on the girls and their families. Young girls have enough to deal with without you using social media for your own sexual gratification.”
Dowle must also pay a £500 fine and was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the next five years.
In a statement, the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed they “worked with police” to bring Dowle to justice.
They said: “James Dowle was issued with an interim suspension by the WRU safeguarding case management panel from rugby-related activities, and he remains suspended at this time.”