Gareth Ritter, 44, of Bryngwyn, was handed a 33-month sentence, suspended for 30 months, after changing his plea to guilty on the sexual assault charge. Judge Dyfed Llion Thomas described the incident as a "cruel assault on a young woman by an older man."
Ritter was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life. He had previously admitted to two counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and one count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child. These images were discovered on his phone and tablet by detectives investigating an unrelated incident.
The court heard that the assault occurred in 2015 after Ritter offered to drive the then 17-year-old victim home from an event in Cardiff. He claimed he needed to stop at a flat he owned in Cardiff Bay. Once inside, Ritter touched the teenager's bottom and kissed her, the jury was told. The victim stated during the trial that the incident made her feel sick, that she had blamed herself, and was later diagnosed with depression. She also told the court that Ritter had "abused his position" and was someone she had "looked up to."
Ritter's defense stated he was "sorry beyond words for the stress and pain he had caused," and that he had lost his teaching and music careers as a result. The judge, however, expressed "grave reservations" about Ritter's remorse, describing his actions as an "abuse of trust" and noting Ritter had targeted the victim in a private location.
Sentencing Ritter, the judge acknowledged Ritter's previous good character and the potential impact on his family when deciding to suspend the sentence. Ritter was ordered to complete 250 hours of community service. Further hearings are scheduled to address court costs, a restraining order, and a sexual harm prevention order.