Courts / Kildare / Report
Married man who sexually exploited teenage girl he befriended on Snapchat is jailed
Summary
David Slattery, a 50-year-old married man from Celbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a child for sexual exploitation and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on dates in 2023. The court heard that Slattery befriended a 16-year-old girl on Snapchat, providing her with money, alcohol, and drugs in exchange for sexual favours, including taking her to hotels on two occasions. Additionally, gardaí discovered two images and two videos of a 13-year-old child on his device during a search. Slattery claimed he believed both victims were 17. Judge Martin Nolan noted the defendant's remorse and mitigation, including his rehabilitation from a cocaine addiction, but stated that Slattery "must suffer a prison term for what he did." The judge imposed a sentence of three years. The victim, who attended the hearing, read a statement describing the lasting trauma and loss of trust she experienced. Slattery has three previous convictions for minor road traffic offences. The matter was finalised with the imposition of this custodial sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Married man who sexually exploited teenage girl he befriended on Snapchat is jailed. Charges or matters: one count of obtaining a child for sexual exploitation and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on dates in 2023. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 28, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2023 Incident
- March 2024 Incident
- 2025-04-09 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of obtaining a child for sexual exploitation and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, known in law as child pornography, on dates in 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The judge noted the mitigation, but said Slattery "must suffer a prison term for what he did", imposing a sentence of three years.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Slattery's house
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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