CRAIG HARVEY SENTENCED IN SWADLINCOTE FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In June 2011, a young man from Swadlincote was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor. Craig Harvey, aged 20 at the time, was convicted of having a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old girl, an act he admitted to but was ultimately acquitted of the charge of rape by a jury.

Harvey, who resided on Burton Road in Swadlincote, had a single sexual encounter with the young girl. The incident took place when Harvey was 19 years old. The case was heard at Derby Crown Court, where it was revealed that Harvey had learning disabilities and functioned at a developmental level much younger than his actual age.

The court heard that Harvey’s mental health and learning difficulties played a role in the case. Despite this, Judge John Gosling emphasized that Harvey had taken advantage of the girl, who was not capable of giving informed consent. The judge noted that the girl’s reactions to her friends suggested she appeared to have enjoyed the experience and expressed no regrets at the time. However, Judge Gosling pointed out that she was far too young to make such a decision and that the true impact of Harvey’s actions might only become apparent many years later.

During the sentencing, Judge Gosling acknowledged that Harvey had been a victim of bullying, which he considered when determining the appropriate punishment. The judge also remarked that he was aware of the challenges Harvey would face in custody but emphasized that justice needed to be served.

As part of his sentence, Harvey was ordered to spend one year in a young offenders’ institution. Additionally, he was required to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years. Judge Gosling concluded that while Harvey needed to be punished for his actions, he did not believe he posed a future risk to other young girls.