MAN JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ASSAULT AFTER CRUEL ATTACK IN WIRRAL
A man known as Jones attempted to sexually assault a young girl while her mother was momentarily distracted, then pretended to sleep afterward.She screamed for help, prompting her mother, who was outside smoking, to rush into the room.
There, she found her daughter visibly distressed.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Jones had a prior conviction from 2015 for similar sexual assault, which involved a woman in circumstances akin to those of the recent incident.
The child informed police that Jones, who was shirtless, took her mother's phone from her while she was watching something.
She further reported that he covered her mouth, pulled down his shorts, and exposed himself.
When police arrested him the next morning, Jones denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the girl had fabricated the story.
He pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted rape.
The case went to a three-day trial last month, requiring the young victim to testify about her experience.
She described how Jones approached her, covered her mouth, exposed himself, and hurt her, leading her to cry out for her mother.
During the trial, Jones sat on a sofa beside the girl, pretending to sleep with his knees pulled up.
The judge described him as 'dangerous' and sentenced him to 11 years in prison, along with an additional five years of licence upon release.
He is expected to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence and can only be released early if deemed not to pose a risk by a parole board.
He was also ordered to register as a sex offender and abide by a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
