Teenager sentenced for child sexual offences

Jessica Garnham-Burton was arrested in May 2024

A Guernsey teenager has been sentenced to almost three years in youth detention for child sexual offences, according to Guernsey Police.

The force said 18-year-old transgender woman Jessica Garnham-Burton was arrested in May 2024 for using social media platform Snapchat to speak to children.

Examination of seized devices revealed Garnham-Burton was posing as a child on the platform and speaking to two children in a sexual manner and sharing images, police said.

Garnham-Burton pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including six of making indecent images of children and was sentenced to two years eight months in youth detention at the Royal Court.

Garnham-Burton was ordered to serve two years eight months in youth detention during a hearing on Friday at the Royal Court for these offences, and also offences of sending messages of an indecent character and making indecent images of children.

Guernsey Police said there was also evidence Garnham-Burton made attempts to meet the children, despite being aware of their ages.

Device examinations also revealed 51 indecent images.

'Monitor children's devices'

Guernsey Police said: "This case is a good example of why it is important as parents to monitor your children's devices by using parental controls on wi-fi, devices and each app.

"And why we would always recommend you think carefully about what age you allow your children to have access to social media, all of which is age restricted to 13-plus.

"There will always be people out there seeking to take advantage of the anonymity many social media and gaming platforms afford."

The police said Garnham-Burton will serve her sentence in the male section of Guernsey's youth detention facility.

This story was updated on 1 July 2025 to make it clear that Jessica Garnham-Burton is a trans woman and will be held in the male wing of the detention facility.