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A "controlling, manipulative and physically abusive" man subjected a woman to a "sexual mauling" after luring her to a secluded area. The victim told a court the incident had left her feeling "helpless" and on medication.
Grant Young, 33, was convicted of sexual assault following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. During the incident, he pinned down his victim and attempted to kiss and hug her.
A sentencing hearing on Tuesday heard the defendant was heavily intoxicated at the time of the sexual assault, and had thrown a bottle of Desperados he had been drinking. Sentencing, Judge Simon Mills Esq said: "The incident concluded with you mauling her in a sexual way. That part of the incident was short lived but you manipulated her into being in your company... She was scared of you."
In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Ieuan Bennett, the victim said: "My anxiety is still through the roof... I struggle with sleeping and sweat through the night which is linked to my PTSD. I constantly feel I have to fight when I am sleeping. I get scared in the dark.
"I feel tense and my back will spasm and I won't be able to move, I feel helpless. I am on medication because I suffer tremors and panic attacks. I still feel the effect of the abuse from him to this day."
Young, of HMP Cardiff, has 32 previous convictions of offences related violence and drugs. He was reprimanded by Judge Mills after shaking his head in the dock, and was told: "You need to stop living for yourself and listen to what somebody else has to say about you." In mitigation, Peter Donnison said his client had not committed "the most serious sexual offence" and had not touched the victim's breasts or naked skin.
Concluding his sentencing remarks, Judge Mills said: "You are controlling, manipulative and physically abusive towards women.... You are a devious and thoroughly manipulative individual with a quick temper and not without a level of intelligence which can give you a faade of plausibility."
Young was sentenced to one year's imprisonment. He was made subject to a restraining order for 10 years and sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.