Banbury man jailed for grooming 13-year-old and meeting her for sexual activity
19/05/2026
Victim: “I thought he was a good person and would never hurt me…it took this whole incident … for me to realise that he is a bad person”
A man from Banbury has been jailed for 5 years after he groomed a child online before arranging to meet her at a hotel for sexual activity.
28-year-old Marcel Romanowski began communicating with the girl online before moving the conversation to WhatsApp. She was just 13 at the time.
Despite being told her age, he moved the chats in a sexual direction.
He sent her indecent images of himself and groomed her until in February last year he arranged to meet her at a hotel in Southend. But once she was at the hotel, the victim became frightened and alerted staff.
Hotel employees immediately acted to protect her, engaging Romanowski in conversation while ensuring the child was kept safe. He left the hotel.
Police were then contacted and an investigation launched. Romanowski was identified and arrested at home in Banbury the following day.
Following a trial, he was convicted of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and meeting a child following grooming.
At Basildon Crown Court last Wednesday (May 13), he was jailed for five years and placed on the sex offenders register for life. He will also be subject to a ten year Sexual Harm Prevention Order restricting his use of electronic devices and contact with children.
The girl’s mother alluded to the pressure of going through the court process and the significant impact it had 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 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 from Essex police 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.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
Reader's opinions
