Locations
Madison Avenue, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4
Description
A 56-year-old Bradford man has been jailed for almost four years for sexually abusing a girl.
Locking up Martin Briggs for 46 months, Judge Andrew Hatton told him: Her whole life has been turned upside down by your depravity.
Briggs, of Madison Avenue, Holme Wood, pleaded guilty to two offences of sexually assaulting the girl, one of which reflected multiple occasions on which he abused her.
Prosecutor Abigail Langford told Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday that the victim confided in a family member and a youth worker what Briggs was doing to her.
He was grabbing her breasts and making sexualised comments, she disclosed.
Briggs made no comment when questioned by the police and went on to deny any wrongdoing.
He pleaded guilty on the day of his trial after the girl had been cross-examined ahead of the hearing as is the usual legal practice nowadays.
Timothy Jacobs, Briggs barrister, said he was effectively a man of good character and had no similar offending on his record, just a few motoring convictions many years ago.
Its a matter of great sadness to him that he has let himself go in this way, Mr Jacobs said.
Briggs was beset with financial worries at the time of the offending. He was in debt, stressed and viewing adult mainstream pornography.
He had many serious health and mobility problems and lived an isolated existence.
Judge Hatton said he was dealing with him for two offences of sexually abusing the child, one that reflected multiple occasions.
He had denied the allegations until the day a jury was to be sworn in to try him.
Briggs had touched the girl indecently and made sexualised comments to her. He had told her not to tell anyone else.
She was frightened of him and had since self-harmed and suffered with depression, Judge Hatton said.
Briggs must sign on the sex offender register for life and the judge made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order without limit of time.