THOMAS GREENEY SENTENCED AT BOLTON CROWN COURT FOR PULLING DOWN LEGGINGS OF CHILD AS SHE SLEPT
A man entered a bedroom where a six-year-old girl was sleeping and pulled down her leggings.Last month, Thomas Greeney, 25, of Avenue Street, Halliwell, stood trial for the sexual assault of the young girl, and a jury unanimously convicted him.
Greeney denied ever entering the girl’s room or committing any offense.
His sentencing took place at Bolton Crown Court on Friday.
The court was told that on September 24 of the previous year, Greeney attended a party in Bolton, where he drank a significant amount of wine and used some cocaine.
During the night, while sleeping downstairs at the venue, he went upstairs to the girl’s bedroom while she was asleep.
There, he climbed into her bed and pulled her leggings down.
Judge Timothy Stead stated: “She was disturbed by this, she pulled them back up, and you repeated this action.” The next morning, the girl confided in her parents about what had happened, leading to the incident being reported to authorities.
Defense lawyer Adam Lodge argued that Greeney’s motives for his actions were uncertain.
He stated: “The defendant does not accept that the incident took place.
He has shown willingness to cooperate with the probation service.
The circumstances are so unusual that your honour might question his specific motivation on that night.” However, Judge Stead disagreed.
He remarked: “I believe your motivation was sexual.
You repeated the act.” Greeney was sentenced to 12 months in prison and was placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.
Initially, the judge considered a suspended sentence, but he decided against it due to Greeney’s persistent denial of involvement.
Judge Stead concluded: “You continue to deny your wrongdoing, insisting that you did not enter that child’s bedroom at all.
I certify that you did go into that room and committed a sexual offence against a sleeping six-year-old girl.” Additionally, Greeney was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from contacting the victim in any way.
