David Evans 50

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Chester man jailed for historic indecent assault of teenage girl

David Evans, 50, of Wrexham Road, Eccleston, Chester, has been jailed for three years after admitting a historic indecent assault on a teenage girl.

Evans was sentenced at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday. He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault.

Prosecutor Laura Knightly said Evans collected the girl in his vehicle in Flintshire and drove her to a layby, where he suggested she perform a sex act on him. She did so.

His guilty plea was accepted on an agreed basis. Evans admitted driving the girl to the layby and engaging in a sexual act with her, but said the act was “consensual” and did not involve “force or coercion.” He also accepted he “was aware she was underage at the time.”

In a victim statement, the girl said she came forward after coming to terms with how “wrong” the act had been. After carrying the “weight of this in silence,” she contacted police “because the truth matters.”

“I hope he realises the impact of his actions,” she said.

Defending, Siôn ap Mihangel pointed to a Probation Service pre-sentence report and said guilty pleas in cases of this kind are unusual because of the stigma involved.

“This court will know that it is unusual that a defendant pleads guilty to crimes of this nature — ordinarily because of the stigma attached, defendants feel a jury should decide and that involves the individual having to relive the incident in court in front of the public,” he said. “That’s not happened in this case; he had the good sense to plead guilty.”

Mr ap Mihangel said Evans had significant mental health difficulties in his youth and was not diagnosed with borderline personality disorder until he was 34. Those difficulties were “not an excuse,” he said, but the court should take them into account. He argued a suspended sentence could be considered and said probation had found a community disposal could be an option.

“This is an historical offence,” he added, “going back some time. He is registered with his GP and has re-engaged with mental health services.”

Mr Recorder John Philpotts imposed three years’ imprisonment after credit for the guilty plea. He refused to suspend the term.

“I am afraid in my judgement, this offence is simply too serious to be suspended,” he said. “It gives the court no pleasure, but that must be served immediately. One factor I have to bear in mind is the deterrence to others.”

Evans must also register as a sex offender.