A JUDGE described the actions of a predator who sexually assaulted a child as she played in the park ‘a mother’s worst nightmare’.
A court heard what was meant to be an ‘exciting’ trip to the park for two best friends, both aged 11, one sunny evening in April, soon turned into a scene of horror with sounds of ‘tears and screaming’.
Harry Williams, 20, appeared before Chester Crown Court on Friday, September 27, for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and another of assault by beating.
Outlining the facts, prosecutor Oliver King stated the evidence provided enabling Williams to be prosecuted was given by the victim’s mother who had witnessed the incident.
He said that between 5pm and 5.30pm on the evening of April 8, the mum had taken her 11-year-old daughter - the victim in the case - and her friend to a park in Northwich to play.
“They played and were watched by the mother,” he said, adding that after a while she began to walk back to the car park, expecting the two girls to make their way back to her.
After 10 minutes had passed and the girls had not returned, the mum walked back towards the park where she recalled being able to see both girls and heard them ‘calling out to each other’.
“She thought they were still engaged in play and walked back towards the car again,” Mr King explained.
“After five or 10 minutes, the girls had still not come back so she walked back to gym area by the park. As she was walking, she heard a noise of screaming.
“She could hear one of the girls screaming the others name.”
The victim’s friend could be heard shouting ‘a man is trying to touch her’.
By this time, the victim’s mum had begun ‘sprinting’ towards the area where the noise was coming from. She was met by the horrifying sight of the defendant, Williams, holding her daughter.
It was heard the sudden presence of the woman did not evoke any reaction from Williams.
“The mother screamed ‘let go of her’ but he did not let go,” the prosecutor continued.
“She then grabbed her daughter and pulled her away and the defendant released his grip.”
The victim’s friend, who had witnessed the sexual assault, ran back to the child and her mum.
Meanwhile, the court heard how the 11-year-old girl looked ‘traumatised’ and repeatedly asked her mum if they could go home.
Before they left the scene, the mother removed her phone from her pocket and attempted to take a picture of the defendant. But the two girls became distressed by the presence of Williams and retreated.
He called out to them ‘it’s all right, I am going now’ before leaving the park.
The mum then began walking back to the car with the two girls who were ‘hysterical’ at this point, and noticing a passerby she told the person what had just happened.
This led to the individual reporting the offence to Cheshire Police.
When the two girls got back into the car, the victim disclosed to her mum that Williams had put his hand on her.
There were also scratches on the stomach of the child left by her attacker.
Williams was located at Manchester Piccadilly Station shortly after the incident following ‘extensive inquiries’ by the police.
While being detained by officers he said, ‘I know I shouldn’t have done it, I hold my hands up’.
However, in police interview he answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.
The defendant has no previous convictions.
An emotional impact statement was read to the judge by the victim’s mother in court.
Within this, she spoke of the psychological impact the incident has had on her daughter.
She said that on the day of the assault, during the journey to the park, both girls were ‘giddy’ and ‘chatting’ and her daughter had declared to her friend ‘this is my absolute favourite park’.
Having regularly visited the park with her children through their childhood, the mum said she was aware of the clear visibility surrounding the play area, making it feel a safe choice of park to take the two girls to.
Going on to how the incident has affected her child, she said: “My daughter, a vibrant, sweet, caring 11-year-old. The assault has left her traumatised mentally and physically.
“She has never before suffered an injury from another person. Her scars are a constant reminder of what happened.
“Following the assault my daughter shut down. She began to retreat in herself. She would not sleep by herself. She regularly still cannot sleep. She questions what she did wrong.
“This fills me with rage and hatred for the man that did this to her.”
She continued: “My previous happy-go-lucky ray of sunshine will now not leave my side. She does not want to visit friends and go on play dates. She feels violated but also ashamed of her body.”
The mum added the thought of what could have happened had she not been there ‘truly haunts her’ and revealed what an ‘emotional toll’ the incident has had on her entire family.
In a second and most recent impact statement made on the day of sentencing, the mum confirmed since the assault in April her daughter still faces ‘daily trauma’ as a result of the defendant’s actions.
“She will often physically freeze and shake when she sees lone males in public. She struggles with physical contact even with family members and she hates being touched. She is very guarded now.”
The mother of the second child who witnessed the assault read out an impact statement detailing how her daughter has been affected by the events of that day.
“She is now absolutely terrified of crowded areas and is particularly scared of men.”
“We went to see a show in Manchester recently and after leaving the theatre a man outside asked her if she enjoyed it. She was physically terrified and could not speak.
“She no longer explores the world the way she did.”
Defending, Matthew Dunford said his client has learning difficulties which have had a ‘significant effect on his functioning’.
He added Williams was placed in the care system at the age of 14 and has an ‘extremely low IQ’.
Before sentencing, His Honour Judge Simon Berkson addressed the defendant directly.
“This case is quite frankly a mother’s worst nightmare.”
“It was supposed to be a pleasant day out for two young girls. They were excited when they left. They came home with tears and screaming.
“Your crime was witnessed by the friend of the victim.
“This is a case where you are a significant risk of causing harm to children in future.”
Williams, of Parkfield Road, Northwich, was sentenced to 32 months detention in a young offender’s institute.
A restraining order for an indefinite period was made for the defendant to not contact or go near the victim or the child who witnessed the offence.
A sexual harm prevention order was also issued which restricts Williams from going near children’s play areas or leisure facilities when children are present. This was specified to be play parks, skate parks and soft play areas.
He will also sign onto the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.
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