Description
A pervert repeatedly masturbated in front of a child and showed her pornography. His "perverse behaviour" has had a huge impact on the victim who described her "innocence being taken away".
David Vine, 47, of Bridgend, performed the sex act in front of the victim on a number of occasions, and even engaged in conversations with her as though nothing untoward was happening. He denied the offences, but was found guilty by a jury following a trial.
A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Monday heard the defendant, previously of Mill Meadow, North Cornelly, also showed pornography to the youngster. When he was questioned at trial as to why he had done this, Vine was unable to provide an explanation.
In total, he was found guilty of four counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. One of the counts represented multiple occasions when this occurred, with the jury finding the defendant had masturbated in front of the victim on at least five other occasions to the other counts.
The victim entered the witness box to read out her victim personal statement. She said: "I spend every waking moment trying to understand why he did what he did to me and why I deserved it. It wasn't as if I asked for it. Did I do something to make him think I wanted to, did I look too innocent? But that was it, I was innocent and very young.... I don't understand why he took my innocence and made me grow up too quickly."
As a result of the offences, the victim said her anxiety levels have risen, her sleep has been affected and had to take sleeping tablets. She said she's had to move house as a result of the defendant, which caused her to lose touch with friends and family.
In mitigation, defence barrister Tabitha Walker said her client had been living in a van and hotels since the trial. She said he had "difficulty" in accepting the verdicts of the jury but had "expressed remorse for any hurt or upset he has caused". Ms Walker said the defendant, who worked as a driver, was lightly convicted and had no previous convictions for sexual offences, and put forward a suspended sentence as an option open to the court.
Sentencing, Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: "You ought to be ashamed of yourself Mr Vine... Your victim questioned herself as to whether she was to blame. It was not her fault, it was your fault and yours alone. You selfishly indulged your own perverse behaviour for your own sexual gratification."
Vine was sentenced to a total of 33 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements for 15 years, and made subject to a restraining order indefinitely.