SHEFFIELD MAN BRADLEY SIMPKINS JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ASSAULT
A depraved man sexually assaulted a 13-year-old schoolgirl in a gennel as she was on the phone to a relative.Bradley Simpkins, 21, targeted the youngster when she was walking home from school in Sheffield in April 2019.
The teenager was on the phone to a family member when she was attacked before a security alarm caused Simpkins to run away.
Detective constable Claire Franklin explained: “The teenager had been on the phone to a family member when she was attacked.
This meant her horrified relative heard her screaming for help as she listened helplessly at the other end of the line.
“Incredibly, in the struggle, the girl managed to activate a security alarm on her phone, which startled Simpkins, causing him to run off.” Just days prior, Simpkins also attacked another victim, an 18-year-old woman, as she was walking to work in Gleadless.
The victim was pulled to the ground and had some of her clothes ripped off, but she tried to fight back and Simpkins fled after being distracted.
Franklin stated: “The victim was pulled to the ground as she was on her way to catch a bus near to Gleadless Common Fields.
He grabbed her from behind and ripped part of her clothing off.
As she tried to fight him off, something distracted him and he left the scene.” Detectives released CCTV images to find Simpkins, who was identified and arrested at his home.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to five years at Sheffield Crown Court.
Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.
DC Franklin praised the victims and witnesses for their bravery, especially the 13-year-old girl who faced cross-examination in court, and said: “Simpkins is now behind bars, which is where he should be and I hope the wider community is satisfied and reassured by the outcome.”
