PAUL OCKELTON FROM INNSWORTH FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON YOUNG GIRL IN GLOUCESTER

In a recent court case held at Gloucester Crown Court, a man named Paul Ockelton, aged 60 and residing in Innsworth, was convicted of sexually assaulting a very young girl. The incident in question took place in November 2021, and the court proceedings revealed disturbing details about the nature of the assault.

Ockelton faced charges under Section 7 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which pertains to sexual touching of a person under the age of 13. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence, denying the allegations and claiming that his actions were innocent gestures such as tickling the girl’s tummy and brushing her hair. Despite his denial, the evidence presented in court painted a different picture.

The court heard that during the incident, Ockelton had sat the young girl on his lap and was heard asking her, “Do you like this?” while engaging in the inappropriate touching. This act was deemed to be sexual in nature by the jury. The young girl later disclosed that Ockelton had touched her private parts, which was a critical piece of evidence in the case.

Ockelton’s defense attempted to argue that his actions were innocent, but the jury was not convinced. After a four-day trial, they found him guilty on Friday, 14 March. Following his conviction, Ockelton was released on bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled to take place at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday, 14 April. The case has garnered significant attention due to the serious nature of the allegations and the impact on the victim and the community of Innsworth.