ANDREW PERCIVAL, BRICKLAYER, SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON IN TOLWORTH

In August 2011, Andrew Percival, a 38-year-old bricklayer, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Alexandra Park, Tolworth, on Easter Sunday.

Percival had intoxicated the teenager by encouraging her to steal wine from a nearby Tesco supermarket, then served her the alcohol. The girl drank from the bottle until she blacked out, only to regain consciousness to find Percival, who had been drinking vodka, in the act of raping her.

During the assault, when the girl resisted, Percival told her, "You know you want this as well," to which she responded, "No. I’m too young." A witness nearby shouted at Percival to "get off her" and assisted the girl in reaching a police station.

Percival, who had a known history of alcohol abuse, was arrested two days later after police found him in a drunken state in a Tolworth car park. He was charged with rape after being woken from sleep by officers.

At Kingston Crown Court on August 19, Percival, who had pleaded guilty, sat silently with arms folded, dressed in a purple polo shirt, as prosecutor Catherine Purnell detailed the case. The defendant, who has previous convictions including a 13-month prison sentence for grievous bodily harm in 1991, remained unemotional as Judge Andrew Campbell sentenced him to a decade behind bars. During the proceedings, Percival briefly acknowledged his daughter in the public gallery.

Judge Campbell described the crime as a "dreadful case" and noted it was aggravated by the victim being a virgin and now feeling afraid to go out alone. The victim’s father expressed his satisfaction, stating Percival had "got what he deserved," as he left court with family and friends.

Mandy Mercer, reviewing lawyer for the CPS London, commented, "This was a serious sexual offence against a minor where the victim was given alcohol and then raped in a public place. I commend her courage in coming forward and hope she finds some comfort in justice being served."

In addition to his prison sentence, the court banned Percival from living with or having contact with any female under 16 without social services’ approval. He was also placed on the dangerous offenders register and required to sign the sexual offenders register for life.