DANIEL BUCK FROM CHESTERFIELD SENTENCED AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT AT Y-NOT FESTIVAL NEAR MATLOCK

In September 2018, a distressing incident unfolded at the Y-Not music festival held near Matlock in Derbyshire, involving a teenage girl who was subjected to a prolonged sexual assault inside a tent. The victim, a young girl, recounted to authorities that Daniel Buck, a 20-year-old university student from Chesterfield, had engaged in a disturbing and persistent assault during the event.

The court heard that the assault took place on July 29, 2015, at the festival in Pikehall. The girl had initially attended the festival with friends, while Buck was part of a different group. At some point during the event, she was ejected from her tent and encountered Buck’s group. He then offered her the chance to sleep in his tent, which he shared with a male friend. According to the prosecution, Buck opened his sleeping bag, closed it over himself and the girl, and then proceeded to pull at the buttons of her onesie. He then inserted his right side inside her shorts and underwear, beginning to touch her private parts.

The victim described how she repeatedly told Buck to stop, pleading with him “not to touch me” approximately 15 to 20 times. Despite her protests, he continued his assault, which she later told police lasted between 20 and 30 minutes. After the assault ceased, she left the tent and returned to her camp.

When she got home, she confided in her mother about what had happened. However, it was only later, upon discovering rumors circulating on social media, that she was persuaded to report the incident to the police. Unfortunately, she faced disbelief and was branded a “liar” both online and at her school in Derbyshire, which further compounded her distress.

In her impact statement, the victim expressed how the ordeal had severely affected her confidence, stating, “I lost a lot of confidence in myself for a long time as I was being called a liar by a lot of people.”

Daniel Buck was arrested, questioned, and ultimately pleaded guilty to sexual assault. His sentencing took place at Derby Crown Court, where Judge Nirmal Shant QC handed down a sentence of 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge emphasized the seriousness of Buck’s actions, noting that the assault was persistent and that he ignored the girl’s repeated pleas for him to stop. The judge also highlighted the additional harm caused by the social media gossip and rumors that followed, which continued to affect the victim.

In addition to the suspended prison term, Buck was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service. Furthermore, he was placed on the sex offender’s register for a period of five years, reflecting the court’s recognition of the gravity of his misconduct and the need for ongoing monitoring.