MICHAEL WARWICK JAILED IN DURSLEY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In June 2009, 47-year-old Michael Warwick of Stroud was sentenced to nine months in jail for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl and attempting to persuade her to run away with him. Gloucester Crown Court heard that Warwick sexually touched the girl, specifically her breasts over her clothing, and used hair dye to disguise her appearance to prevent recognition.

Warwick, residing on Russell Street, admitted to the sexual assault that took place in Dursley on June 9 last year. Judge William Hart addressed him, stating, "You behaved in a wholly inappropriate way towards this 16-year-old girl who was, in terms of mental age, significantly younger. You would have appreciated her limitations during the course of that day. It would have become apparent to you that she was a very much younger person mentally than she was chronologically. You indulged in some inappropriate behaviour and ultimately committed a sexual assault on her when you touched her breasts over her clothing."

In addition to his prison sentence, Warwick was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the next 10 years.

The incident was initially reported following Warwick’s meeting with the girl the night before in Dursley library, where he engaged her in conversation. The next day, Warwick approached her outside a local sweet shop and continued speaking with her. The victim, who has learning difficulties and a mental age estimated between 12 and 14, walked to a nearby park, with Warwick following her. According to the prosecutor Julian Kesner, the girl needed to go to the toilet and entered some bushes, where Warwick smacked her on the bottom over her clothing.

Later, the girl walked with Warwick into the town. Warwick bought a bottle of whisky and offered to her, persuading her to drink despite her initial reluctance. Mr. Kesner explained, "He told her he lived in Bristol and he wanted to take her there. He said ‘You’ve got to run away from home. Come to Bristol with me’." Warwick then went to Tesco to purchase hair dye so she could go in disguise. Upon returning to Warwick’s flat, her hair was dyed to further conceal her identity.

Additionally, Warwick physically assaulted her at this stage, with a witness, a friend of Warwick’s, later seen leaning over and touching her breasts over her clothes. This friend, along with a neighbour, called the police.

Defence solicitor Giles Nelson highlighted Warwick’s poor impression during a pre-sentence probation interview, stating that due to this, he was unable to recommend any alternative to imprisonment.