DAVID COOMS SENTENCED IN BODMIN HOLIDAY PARK SEX CRIME CASE
In a disturbing case that unfolded at a holiday park near Bodmin, a man named David Coombs was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl and subsequently sentenced to six years in prison.The incident took place on September 20 at Michaelstow Holiday Park in St Tudy, where Coombs was staying at the time.
According to court proceedings, the assault was witnessed by another visitor at the holiday park who immediately reported the incident.
The young girl, who was under the age of 13 and cannot be named for legal reasons, was found in a compromising situation with Coombs.
The court heard that Coombs claimed his actions were innocent, asserting that he was merely showing the girl his “thing” and that she had asked him to look at a spot on her bottom.
Following the report, police were called to the scene, and the girl was taken for an interview.
Initially, she denied that anything had happened, citing fear of getting into trouble as her reason for silence.
Prosecutor Nigel Wraith explained that the girl later disclosed that this type of inappropriate behavior had occurred on five separate occasions.
She revealed that Coombs had told her not to tell anyone about what was happening, which added to her fear and confusion.
In court, Coombs, who was listed as having no fixed address, admitted to five counts of sexually assaulting the girl during an earlier hearing.
His defense attorney, Kelly Scrivener, explained that Coombs chose not to appear in court for the sentencing hearing, despite being brought from custody.
She stated that his absence was due to feelings of shame and remorse, and that he did not want to have her mention that he himself had been abused as a child, which she argued was a factor in his behavior.
Ms.
Scrivener highlighted that Coombs had worked in the service industry for 15 years, often in challenging and emotionally taxing environments, and that he had thrown himself into his employment as a way of coping.
She emphasized that he had never previously been involved in any criminal activity of this nature.
Judge Simon Carr, presiding over the case, sentenced Coombs to six years in prison.
The judge expressed his belief that, had Coombs not been caught in the act, the abuse would likely have continued and possibly worsened.
He acknowledged Coombs’s apparent remorse, stating, “I accept his remorse at this stage is genuine.” Furthermore, Judge Carr underscored the profound impact of the crime on the victim and her mother, remarking, “Sadly, I suspect this is something she will carry with her for the rest of her life.” As part of the sentence, Coombs was made subject to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions related to his conduct.
