WREXHAM MAN RECEIVES CUSTODIAL SENTENCE AFTER SEXUALLY TOUCHING YOUNG GIRL
A WREXHAM man who sexually touched a young girl has received a custodial sentence.Stephen Asher, of Maes Teg in Penycae, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Wednesday for sentence.
The 41-year-old had previously admitted one offence of sexual assault, and one of failing to surrender to police or court bail.
Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting, told the court that the sexual assault had entailed Asher touching a young girl's legs and putting his hand over her private parts.
The court heard Asher had denied the offences up until the day of trial - and as such had put his victim through the ordeal of having to come to court to be cross-examined during a pre-trial hearing.
Asher also caused delays to the court process by failing to turn up to court in July last year, causing a postponement to the first cross-examination hearing.
Judge Timothy Petts said: "He had a hearing where the victim was cross-examined as if she wasn't telling the truth and changed his plea on the day the jury was due to be sworn.
At the moment I'm not thinking of giving him any credit." Mr Wyn Williams said: "I ask the court to consider that it was only on the day of trial he had representation and an opportunity to speak to someone about the strength of the evidence." The Judge told him: "You were behaving in an inappropriate and sexual way.
I'm told you now accept the sexual motivation in what you did, but when you spoke to the author of the pre-sentence report you refused to accept responsibility.
MORE COURT NEWS "You showed no remorse.
She was clearly very traumatised by what you did." The Judge also branded Asher's failure to come to court in July last year a "deliberate attempt to delay or evade justice." In all, the defendant received a 60 week immediate custodial sentence.
He was made subject to a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification provisions for the same period.
Judge Petts told the defendant that while he may already be subject to automatic release on licence (given the time he has spent on remand), any failure to comply with the terms of that licence will see him recalled to serve the sentence in full behind bars.
