November 2014

Six years in prison for family man who treated 13-year-old girl as “personal sex toy”

A SEEMINGLY respectable family man has been jailed for six years for “ruining” a woman’s life by sexually abusing her as a child.

David Jordan, 51, of Kelbra Crescent, Frampton Cotterell, was found guilty of six sex offences against his victim when she was 13 or 14.

Bristol Crown Court heard that he abused her numerous times in woods in the Bristol area during the 90s, and even introduced bondage when he tied her up in a van.

Before Judge Mark Horton jailed him yesterday, Jordan’s victim was in tears as she read her victim personal statement.

“It has ruined my life,” she said. “The memory of the abuse I suffered will always be with me.”

She described how she went from being a bubbly, innocent and trusting child with dreams for the future before the abuse, to someone who became a liar, bunked off school and has suffered depression and self-harm since. She has also had three nervous breakdowns and attempted suicide a number of times.

In adulthood, her marriage failed and she has sought out “destructive” unhealthy relationships, which she believes stems from the abuse she suffered.

“I cannot trust any man not to hurt me,” she said, as her family sat in the public gallery.

“Every time I’m happy, I will find a way to destroy myself. I’m damaged, I’m cold and I’m isolated.”

As he passed sentence, Judge Horton told the defendant: “You stole her late childhood by this abuse, and as the court has heard, you robbed her of any ability to develop proper intimate relationships. Planned in a predatory way, you treated her as little more than your personal sex toy.

“I note the very sad absence of one scintilla of remorse in you for what you have done to this woman.”

Married father Jordan denied indecent assault, but was found guilty by a jury after trial.

The trial heard his victim had “consented” to sexual activity, but as she was under 16, she was not old enough to do so in the eyes of the law.

In mitigation, Judge Horton read a “very large” number of glowing character references written about the defendant. His barrister, Mary Cowe said he was highly unlikely to offend again in future. There would be a “severe impact” on his family, both emotionally and financially, now he has been jailed, she added.

“This is a hard-working man who loves his family,” she said.

October 2014

Van driver guilty of sex abuse on girl during delivery runs

A VAN driver has been found guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl on delivery runs. Courier David Jordan told a jury he took the youngster on around two daytime delivery runs as well as two early morning newspaper delivery rounds.

But he told Bristol Crown Court: “It was innocent. There was nothing to be concerned about.”

The 51-year-old, of Kelbra Crescent in Frampton Cotterell, denied wrongdoing but was convicted of six indecent assaults.

Judge Mark Horton allowed him bail, pending a report for sentencing on November 20

Jordan told the court the complainant went out with him in his van some four occasions, including “a couple of times” on early morning newspaper deliveries.

Jordan said: “I guess it would have been her school holiday.

“She liked to come on the trip.

“The newspapers were seven days a week.

“When I talked to her it would just have been general chit-chat.”

Jordan said the girl would have asked to go out in his van with him, and he asked her to make sure it was OK with her mum and dad.

He said: “I wouldn’t have let her come if there was any negativity there.”

Jordan told the court when the girl made allegations against him he was arrested and his reaction was one of disbelief.

He said: “I was shocked. I never did anything to her.

“There is no basis whatsoever for her to tell anybody that I had.”

Jordan said he liked the girl’s company, he liked chatting with her and he liked her.

He said: “She was great. There were no problems at all there.”

It was claimed Jordan would get the girl to take her clothes off in the back of his van.

The girl also alleged he tied her up for a “sex game”, though Jordan explained his van was normally filled with cargo and he carried no rope, just webbing straps to secure items.

Kerry Barker, prosecuting, told the jury the girl was even taken on holiday with Jordan and his wife and two children.

He claimed Jordan assaulted his victim on one of his daughter’s beds while the rest of the family were out.

The jury was told the assaults stopped when the victim got her first boyfriend. She went on to lead a normal life until she saw him in a chance encounter at her work.

She even confronted him while suffering a breakdown, asking for an apology after inviting him to her house in the presence of a friend.

Later on she saw pictures of him on Facebook which brought back memories, prompting her to finally contact police in July of last year