SAMUEL GRIFFITHS SHAMES SHEPSHED WITH YEARS OF ABUSE ON SCHOOLGIRL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Shepshed, Samuel Griffiths, a 35-year-old man, was convicted of a prolonged period of sexual abuse involving a 13-year-old girl. The heinous acts took place over a span of two years, during which Griffiths, a hotel porter, repeatedly exploited the young girl after meeting her and grooming her for his own predatory purposes.

According to court proceedings, Griffiths engaged in a pattern of grooming that culminated in him taking the girl’s virginity. The encounters were often arranged in secrecy, occurring in the early mornings after his night shifts, as she was on her way to school. This pattern of abuse not only involved physical acts but also extended to coercing the girl into sending him indecent photographs of herself. Griffiths used manipulative language to silence her, warning her, “You can’t tell anyone, I’ll lose my family, I’ll lose my life, I’ll lose my home and I’ll lose my kids,” in an attempt to keep her silent about the abuse.

Griffiths, who was residing at Tyler Court in Shepshed at the time, faced justice after the victim, who ceased contact with him when she turned 15, struggled with the emotional and psychological aftermath of the abuse. It was revealed that she had difficulties with her schooling and was prescribed anti-depressant medication, highlighting the profound impact of Griffiths’ actions on her mental health.

The prosecution, led by Siward James-Moore, detailed the extent of the trauma, stating, “She doesn’t think she will ever get back to how she was before this happened. She believes there will never be justice.”

During the sentencing at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Martin Hurst addressed the severity of the case, emphasizing the significant age difference and the vulnerability of the young girl. The judge remarked, “This abuse began after her 13th birthday and you were 32 or 33, and there was a very significant age differential. You started to express interest in her and brushed past her telling her she was beautiful and gorgeous. You became ever more infatuated with her. You knew what you were doing was wrong. She was a vulnerable young girl, innocent of all such matters you were about to engage in.”

As part of his punishment, Griffiths was sentenced to four years in prison and was placed under a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. This order explicitly prohibits any contact with the victim, aiming to protect her from further harm and to prevent any possibility of reoffending. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by vulnerable young individuals and the importance of vigilance within communities like Shepshed to prevent such tragic abuses from occurring again.