Oxfordshire man jailed for grooming 13-year-old girl and arranging to meet her at Essex hotel
Despite knowing the victim's age, the man sent indecent images and arranged to meet the victim in Southend
Last updated 19th May 2026
A man from Banbury, Oxfordshire, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of grooming a 13-year-old girl online and arranging to meet her at a hotel in Southend.
Marcel Romanowski, 28, began communicating with the girl online, later moving the conversation to WhatsApp despite being aware of her age.
The interaction escalated as Romanowski sent indecent images and arranged to meet the victim at a hotel in Southend in February 2025.
After arriving at the hotel, the girl became frightened and alerted the staff, who took immediate action to protect her and contacted the police.
The following day Romanowski was arrested at his home and charged with multiple sexual offences, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, and meeting a child following grooming.
On 13th May at Basildon Crown Court, he was jailed for five years, placed on the sex offenders register for life, and received a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his electronic device usage and contact with children.
In a statement, the girl’s mother said the pressure of going through the court process had a significant impact on her daughter. She said: “She bottles up her feelings and the impact on her was long lasting, with a significant effect over a period of months.
“This is what happened when my relatively young teenage child became embroiled in a situation she found confusing, embarrassing, unpredictable and overwhelming.
“In none of this is implied any criticism of the police or court system – both have been very professional, kind and helpful.”
The victim herself said: “This was a very upsetting experience that I don’t ever want to relive again. I feel like I have learnt a lesson about speaking to strangers online and about people’s intentions.
“I thought he was a good person and would never hurt me. Ultimately, it took this whole incident to happen for me to realise that he is a bad person.”
DC Magdalena Ruseva, officer in the case, said: “This was a frightening experience for a young girl, and her bravery in speaking up – along with the swift actions of hotel staff and our officers – ensured she was kept safe.
“The hotel staff acted exactly as we would hope, trusting their instincts and putting a child’s welfare first, and we are very grateful for their actions.
“Offences like this cause lasting harm, and we remain committed to treating all incidents of this nature with urgency, care and professionalism.
“We also continue to focus on prevention, alongside enforcement, by working with partners and communities to help reduce the risks children and young people can face online.”