Man carried out sex attack on teenager (From Swindon Advertiser)

Man carried out sex attack on teenager

9:00am Friday 14th September 2012 in News

A MAN who grabbed a 16-year-old girl in a prolonged sex attack in her own home has walked free from court.

James Haimes took hold of the girl and pulled at her underwear during the incident at a friend’s house.

But after hearing the 20-year-old suffered from problems of rejection and low self worth and had not been in trouble before, a judge imposed a community order.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Haimes was staying at the friend’s house when the incident took place on March 13.

The victim had owed him some money, which they had argued about, though she had repaid it shortly before the incident.

Miss Marlow said he grabbed at the teenager putting his hand over her mouth so it was difficult for her to breath and so her attempts to scream could not be heard.

He then grabbed at her leg with his right hand, leaving a scratch on her thigh, but she managed to push him off and get away.

But he pursued her saying he wanted to talk to her but he again took hold of her and tried to pull down her shorts and knickers.

Haimes, of Coventry Close, Wroughton , pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted rape, which the Crown did not proceed with.

Rob Ross , defending, said that the offence did not start off with a sexual motive and, though terrifying for the victim, was at the lower end of the scale of seriousness.

“I am not suggesting that I would in any way minimise what happened to her but I think it is an odd offence,” he said.

“I don’t think some of what happened that morning had a sexual nature at all.

“There was a very obvious sense of anger in the young man because he felt rejected.”

Mr Ross said that his client was one of a twin and he had issues and problems in his family background which left him with those feelings.

He said his client clearly had a low self worth and was attending a help group for people who self harm.

“This young man in many ways has a myriad of problems that we as a court can’t get to grips with overnight. It is apparent he does need interventions,” he said.

Judge Euan Ambrose said the sentencing guidelines for sexual assault where genitalia were not touched meant a very short custodial sentence was the most he could pass.

He imposed a two year community order with supervision and a night time curfew for four months.

Haimes will also have to register as a sex offender for five years, is barred from working with children and must not contact the victim or her family.