WREXHAM MAN RECEIVES CUSTODIAL SENTENCE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT
A WREXHAM man has received a custodial sentence for a sexual assault.Lee O’Brien, of HMP Whatton, Nottingham, but who previously lived in Wrexham, appeared via video link at Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday (November 20).
The 52-year-old had previously admitted one count of assault by penetration.
John Wyn Williams, prosecuting, said the incident occurred in 2015, when the defendant was 42-years-of-age.
The victim had refused the defendant’s advances, but O’Brien overpowered him.
It wasn’t until June 2023 that the victim reported the offence to the police.
The defendant was arrested and interviewed in September 2023.
He denied sexually assaulting the victim.
The victim read a statement out to the court, saying before the incident he was “outgoing, happy and confident”.
But since it happened his professional career has suffered due to the trauma from what happened, and he has battled with mental health ever since.
“I struggled to understand why you did what you did,” he said.
“I wanted to believe it was a nightmare and none of this was true.
I suffer from worsening nightmares.
“I feel dirty and disgusting and can never get over that feeling.” The court heard that O'Brien is serving an existing 10-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a child - which he was convicted of in 2020.
Matthew Dunford, defending, said O’Brien had pleaded guilty to the offence – which meant avoiding a trial.
He said O’Brien is genuinely remorseful for what he’d done, and had endured a “difficult background” at the hands of an abusive father.
Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced O’Brien to a further five-and-a-half years imprisonment – as well as an extended period of three-and-a-half years on licensed conditions.
He was also made the subject of a 15-year restraining order from the victim.
