“I feel relieved that justice has been done, and I was believed in court. I want to now get on with my life.”

Liam Hobbs, 27, from Ely, Cardiff, has been jailed at Cardiff Crown Court for historical sexual assaults on a child.

His offending came to light when the victim bravely reported what had happened.

Hobbs was arrested and his mobile phone and other devices were seized for examination. Indecent images of children were found and he was further arrested.

Hobbs admitted three counts of possesion of indecent photographs but denied two counts of assault by penetration on a girl under 13.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court found him guilty on July 1, 2026, following a trial and he was sentenced on September 2, 2026, to 14 months in prison for the indecent images offences.

For the sexual assault, he received a consecutive seven-year extended sentence comprising of 5 years imprisonment with an extended two years on licence.

In an impact statement, the victim said: "I feel relieved that justice has been done, and I was believed in court. I want to now get on with my life".

Officer in the case, Detective Constable Emma Partridge, from South Wales Police, said: “The victim was incredibly brave to share what happened to her and support the investigation.

“Her evidence at court was compelling and she should feel proud of herself.

“Hobb’s actions continue to have a huge impact on her life including panic attacks and difficulty sleeping.

“I hope the sentencing brings some comfort and allows her to regain confidence to move forward.”

We never underestimate how difficult it is for survivors of sexual abuse to speak out and report.

But we hope cases like this one provide reassurance that victims will be listened to, treated with dignity and respect, and will be supported throughout the judicial process.

If you have been sexually abused, and you are not yet ready to report to police, please don’t suffer in silence. A wealth of information and details of support services can be found here.