Locations
Mistley Place Park animal sanctuary
Description
A judge has apologised to two teenage girls after sentencing guidelines prevented her from jailing a pervert who sexually abused them at his animal sanctuary.
Judge Patricia Lynch QC admitted that it was with a heavy heart that Michael Taylor, 75, was allowed to walk free from court despite abusing the girls, then aged 15 and 17.
Taylor had admitted to sexual assault at the petting farm he has run since 1989. He groomed, kissed and groped the pair now aged 17 and 19 at Mistley Park Place in Essex, which is home to 2,000 animals.
In her victim impact statement, the younger of the two victims said she would like to see Taylor go to prison for a long time a sentiment the judge said she understood.
But because of Sentencing Council guidelines relating to the age of the victims and the seriousness of the assaults, Judge Lynch said she was unable to put Taylor behind bars.
Speaking to the victims and their families at Chelmsford Crown Court, she said: With a heavy heart I propose to adopt the recommendations in the pre-sentence report.
The judge imposed a 36-month community order, which led to criticism from the NSPCC. It said it did not feel morally right.
The young victims will have been scarred in some way by this appalling experience and will need support to recover, a spokesman said. Sentences in such cases should always fit the crime and act as a deterrent to others.
Judge Lynch told Taylor: You have to live with the damage you have done to two young lives.
You are 75 and hitherto of good character up until this period of dreadful offending.
I am sure this is a crime you will never forget and you dont deserve to forget.
You took advantage of children. Some might suggest you have only cuddled and kissed and this is not a serious case, but I deprecate any such suggestion. Adults who sexually assault children must take the consequences.
Although Taylor was also ordered to take part in a community sex offender programme and to sign the sex offenders register, he will still be allowed to continue working at the farm.
He was also told to pay 1,000 in costs and was banned from unsupervised contact with girls under 18 for five years.
Taylor, who runs Mistley Park Place, had made sure the girls were alone before kissing and cuddling them, the court was told. On one occasion, he offered 100 for a kiss and a cuddle.
He also sent the girls text messages and told them they were beautiful before urging them to delete the messages. He forcefully kissed the 17-year-old on the lips which she described as disgusting, the court heard.
During the same period, between July and October 2013, he kissed the 15-year-old girl, and touched her bottom and breasts over her clothes.
Chris Paxton, prosecuting, said: There was a process of grooming, ingratiating himself and trying to win over someone who was 50 years younger than himself.
Peter Barlex, mitigating, said that Taylor was trying to be sociable. He added: He was trying to offer comfort and be a friend, but accepts he got carried away and things got out of hand.
He appreciates the gravity of the allegations.
Speaking outside court, PC Rachel Moss of Essex Police said: Justice has been achieved.
It is clear to me that they have been severely affected by the crimes committed upon them by Taylor. I only hope the sentence will allow them to get on with their lives.