This is the moment when brave police officers rush into the sea to catch a pedophile who has plunged into the waves.
Gavin Bennett, 45, waded through the water on the coast of Porthcawl in Wales in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Dressed in a white sweater, he ran into the sea in the dark on October 22 last year at 9.45 pm, as the waves crashed around him.
Police bodycam footage showed officers bravely pursuing the sex offender, who was wanted for sending inappropriate messages to a schoolgirl he believed to be under 16.
Despite the risk of currents and the lack of visibility, officers followed Bennett into the sea.
In the video, the officer says, “I have to go in,” and warns his colleague, saying, “Be careful with the current.”
Moments later, Bennett was brought safely ashore and arrested by Bridgend officers.
He was arrested and taken to hospital for assessment before being taken back into custody.
Brave police officers rushed into the sea in Porthcawl, Wales, to snare pedophile Gary Bennett who entered the water in a bid to escape arrest
In the video, the officer says: ‘I have to go in’ and warns his colleague with the words ‘be careful in the current’
Bennett was jailed for three years and eight months after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child. He was also convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting a woman
Bennett was charged with two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child.
Within three days of the incident he entered a guilty plea at Cardiff Crown Court.
Yesterday, Bennett, from Porthcawl, was sentenced to three years and eight months for the offences.
He was also convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting a woman. A report was filed with the police in August 2023.
This follows the victim revealing that Bennett sexually assaulted her multiple times over a two-year period.
Detective Sergeant Natasha O’Rourke said: ‘I would like to thank the victim in this case for coming forward and for his bravery throughout the process of this investigation.
‘Thanks to her we were able to convict a man who clearly poses a threat to young women. I can only hope this helps her move on from this in a more positive way and get some form of closure.”
He was also given a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
Sergeant Melissa Carpenter, from the Bridgend response team, said: ‘The courage of these officers meant that no harm came to Bennett, and the investigation was then able to continue by CID colleagues who ensured that Bennett was held accountable for his actions.’
Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Owain Hembury said: ‘Bennett willingly attempted to manipulate someone he believed to be under the age of 16 for his own sexual gratification, and I am pleased that he is being held accountable for his actions, despite his attempt to evade arrest.’
