2008: UPPER GORNAL MAN JAILED FOR SEX ACT WITH 13-YEAR-OLD
A man aged 27 from Upper Gornal, Phillip Bathurst, received a 33-month prison sentence after recording himself in a sexual act with a schoolgirl.At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge John Warner highlighted the gravity of the case, reminding Bathurst that “You are not some late teenager - you are a man of 27 and this girl was just 13 years of age.” This case was particularly serious because Bathurst had a prior conviction for indecent assault.
Bathurst, of Clarence Street, admitted to charges of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and taking indecent photographs of a child.
Prosecutor Mark Rees informed the court that the offences were uncovered when a young man noticed the images on Bathurst’s mobile device, prompting police investigation.
The girl involved stated she felt she had no choice but to comply with Bathurst’s demands, and she was also photographed and stripped by him.
Defense attorney Christopher Rodwell explained that Bathurst was going through a rough patch in his relationship, which was a factor in his offending.
He maintained that Bathurst was unaware of the girl’s true age and that he promptly deleted the images once aware.
Rodwell characterized the misconduct as a spur-of-the-moment act and emphasized that Bathurst was not a sexual predator.
The court also ordered Bathurst to remain on the sex offender register for life and to be barred from working with children ever again.
