DAVID PHILLIPS FROM LOSTWITHIEL SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGER

In a case that has shocked the community of Lostwithiel, Cornwall, David Phillips, aged 44, was sentenced last week to a prison term of five years after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in her own bedroom. The incident, which took place in October 2009, involved Phillips entering the girl’s room while she was asleep and subjecting her to molestation, despite her pleas for him to stop.

According to court proceedings, Phillips, who resides on Edgcumbe Road in Lostwithiel, had previously been cautioned for exposing himself to a female motorist. He had also voluntarily disclosed to police that he had a recurring problem with public indecency, including exposing himself in phone booths and inside his vehicle. These prior incidents added context to his current conviction, which resulted in a significant sentence and lifelong registration as a sex offender.

The prosecution, led by Malcolm Galloway, detailed the distressing nature of the assault. The young victim, who was asleep at the time, awoke to find Phillips in her room with his hand down her pyjamas. She attempted to resist and told him to stop, but he responded by covering her mouth and continuing his assault. The court heard that Phillips later returned to her room, persisted in his inappropriate behavior, and made crude sexual requests. The girl, overwhelmed and frightened, struggled to get away and was unable to alert anyone immediately. Instead, she sent a text message to her boyfriend, indicating that something terrible had happened.

Phillips was arrested after the girl confided in her parents about the incident. In a statement read to the court, the victim expressed the profound impact the assault had on her life, stating, “I want to say this has had a bad effect on my life. I used to be lively and active… I feel I want to be on my own.” Her words underscored the lasting psychological scars inflicted by the attack.

The court also considered Phillips’ previous criminal record, which includes a 2003 caution for outraging public decency. During that incident, he followed two women’s vehicle and exposed himself as they attempted to drive away. When questioned by police, Phillips admitted to having a problem with public indecency and asked if help was available to address his behavior.

Defense lawyer Nicholas Bradley argued that Phillips was genuinely remorseful, had no prior sexual offenses, and had pleaded guilty early in the process to prevent further distress to the victim. However, Judge Philip Wassall emphasized the severity of the crime, warning that the psychological damage to the victim could be long-lasting and difficult to quantify.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable John Phillips, who led the investigation, expressed his sympathies to the victim and her family. He stated, “My thoughts go out to the girl and her family, who have been through so much suffering because of this. I think the prison sentence reflects the seriousness of this crime.” The case highlights the ongoing concerns about sexual offenses and the importance of justice for victims in the Lostwithiel community.