David Robinson 47

Description

A man performed sex acts in front of a vulnerable young girl, a court heard. David Robinson subjected his victim, who was of primary school age at the time, to the disgusting acts on two occasions.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard Robinson, 46, was found guilty on June 23 this year of two counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child when he masturbated in front of the girl on two occasions. The sick incidents were described by the judge as "appalling" while the court also heard Robinson, of Coity Road, Bridgend, had left his victim afraid to be left alone and unable to feel comfortable with men.

Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, read a victim statement on behalf of the girl who said she now "didn't want to be anywhere on [her] own" and "feels alone" since the incidents took place. It said she had sought counselling but had struggled to talk directly about what happened and that she now "doesn't feel comfortable around men" as a result. The court also heard the girl struggled to sleep and suffered from "repetitive nightmares."

Hashim Salmman, defending, said Robinson had previous convictions related to exposure in 2008 and 2010 but asked the judge to consider the time that had elapsed since these were committed. He said the defendant was at low risk of reoffending generally and at medium risk of future sexual reoffending. He asked the judge to consider his client's lack of recent offending, adding that he had witnessed and suffered domestic violence as a child. He said Robinson had a history of alcohol abuse and psychiatric treatment and other health issues, adding that he had not worked for four years.

Judge Wayne Beard said Robinson's offending was "significant" and that there were circumstances that "demonstrated that this was a persistent pattern" when taken with his earlier convictions. "No-one can be anything other than touched by the trauma that this has impacted upon a young woman," he continued, adding that the defendant was at medium risk of future sexual offending.

Robinson was jailed for a total of two years and three months. There was also a restraining order imposed indefinitely and he is required to sign as a sex offender on the register indefinitely. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed indefinitely as well as a £181 statutory surcharge.