NEIL NELLIES

BLIND SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS FOR ABUSING A YOUNG GIRL

A man who sexually abused a 10-year-old girl has been sentenced to seven years in prison.Neil Nellies, aged 42, who is registered as blind, assaulted his young victim, causing her to attempt to take her own life and "stole her childhood," as stated in court.

The offenses occurred several years ago in Wilmslow, Cheshire, and Nellies was convicted of five serious sex offenses after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.During the court proceedings, Nellies arrived with his guide dog Digby.

The judge noted that prison rules would prevent him from having his guide dog with him in jail.

Instead, the dog will be retrained to assist another blind individual.

Nellies' barrister, Rachel Shenton, expressed concern that Nellies's five-year benefit from the guide dog would be lost in imprisonment.

She emphasized that the prison environment would be unfamiliar and impactful for him.The judge, Judge Simon Berkson, refused to suspend the jail sentence, citing the severity of the crimes.

He stated to Nellies, "You stole that girl's childhood," and highlighted the psychological harm inflicted on the victim, including her belief that she was no longer her mother's little girl.

The court also learned that Nellies had suffered a stroke and had multiple mental health issues, including an emotionally unstable personality disorder and potential autism.Nellies was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, placed on an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, and given an additional year on license.