Man admits teen sex act

8:10am Friday 21st November 2008

A PERVERT who molested a sleeping teenage girl while she was staying at his house has been jailed for 14 months.

Antony Hatt, of Cheney Manor Road, described himself as a “dirty old man” and a pervert in his police interview.

The 51-year-old was yesterday told by a judge he would have to serve half of his sentence.

Swindon Crown Court was told how the 16-year-old victim was asleep on the sofa at Hatt’s home after a party, with other children in the room, when he started touching her.

He then tried to perform a sex act on her. When she pushed him away he told her ‘Don’t be ashamed. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about’.

Richard Onslow, prosecuting, told the court: “There was a party at the defendant’s house, a sleepover.

“The defendant had been out drinking and returned at around 11 o’clock.

“Some time later the young folk settled down to sleep. The defendant’s wife went to bed.

“In the early hours of the morning the victim was woken by the defendant rubbing her chest area. She recalls being shocked.”

Hatt then performed the sex act on the girl.

“She reacted by pushing him away,” said Mr Onslow.

“She started crying. Another 16-year-old saw her friend more upset than she had ever seen her before.

“The victim decided to leave the house, without waiting for a taxi.

“But somebody from the house had the sense to telephone her parents, woke her father up who came in the car along with his wife to get her.

“She immediately told her parents about what had happened.

“Her father flagged down a police car and made a complaint.”

Hatt was arrested at 6.30am and admitted what he had done in interview.

“He said he had realised how it would look and described himself as a pervert and a dirty old man and said he was ashamed.”

Ian Halliday for the defence said Hatt had originally denied the offence because he wanted to tell his wife about it first. When the case was listed for trial he changed his plea admitting assault by penetration.

Mr Halliday said: “He is wholly clear the blame for this rests on his own shoulders.

“At the beginning of this case, he spent three days in custody, he was terrified and remains terrified knowing the ultimate power of this court.”

Judge Douglas Field rejected Mr Halliday’s appeals to suspend the sentence.

“They were at your house enjoying themselves,” he said. “You took advantage of the situation and abused this young girl. You assaulted her by penetration which is a very serious matter. Taking all matters into consideration I must impose an immediate sentence of imprisonment.”