Nathan Berry, a 38-year-old swimming teacher, has been jailed for five years and four months after being convicted of sexually assaulting a vulnerable child and possessing more than 120 indecent images. The offences took place while he worked at Penarth Leisure Centre, near Cardiff in south Wales.
Arrest and investigation
Berry was arrested in March 2026, and his mobile phone was seized. South Wales Police detectives found more than 120 indecent images of children on the device, along with evidence of sexual assault.
Police said his victims were non-verbal children, whom the court heard Berry had targeted due to their vulnerabilities. Parents identified their children as victims from the photographs on his device.
Court proceedings and sentence
Berry pleaded guilty and was convicted of eight offences: four counts of taking indecent photographs, two counts of making indecent images, one count of possession of prohibited images, and one sexual assault of a child under 13. He was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on August 4.
In addition to the prison term, Berry received an extended licence period of eight years. He is also subject to a Restraining Order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which bans him from any unsupervised contact or communication with any child under 16.
Police response
Detective Constable Julie Lewis, from South Wales Police, said: "Nathan Berry betrayed the trust of these children and their parents in the most dreadful way. We hope the outcome at court goes some way in helping them to rebuild their ability to trust and feel safe again. This investigation demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding vulnerable people."
Police delayed publicising the case so the victims' families "were given time to process the legal proceedings and everything that had taken place." The force added: "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."
