Sexual deviant fronts court over sexual abuse of 7-year-old girl

A sexual deviant gave a 7-year-old girl a long hug and sexually assaulted her before offering to bribe her with “something special”.

A man who sexually abused a 7-year-old girl after giving her a long cuddle has been sentenced to eight years in jail.

A man sent to jail for eight years for sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl after giving her a long cuddle continues to maintain his innocence.

Richard Jones — a court-ordered pseudonym — admitted he cuddled the girl but denied touching her vagina and opted for a jury trial.

He was found guilty on one charge of sexual penetration of a child under the age of 12.

The 33-year-old committed his offending in regional Victoria and Judge Douglas Trapnell said Jones continued sexually abusing the girl despite her asking him a number of times to stop.

Jones asked her if she liked it and she replied ‘no’, before telling the girl not to tell anyone about what he had done to her.

Richard Jones was found guilty by a jury of sexual penetration of a 7-year-old girl.

Judge Trapnell said although there was no victim impact statement, the Victorian Court of Appeal had made clear that there was a presumption of harm to children who were exposed to premature sexual activity and that long lasting physical and psychological harm was to be assumed.

“Your offending is aggravated by the fact the victim was particularly young, being only seven years of age when you committed this vile act against her,’’ Judge Trapnell said.

“You told the victim not to tell anyone about what you had done. You attempted to induce her silence with a bribe, that you would buy her ‘something special’.”

Jones will have to serve a minimum of five years before he’ll be eligible for parole.