Judge decides not to jail pervert who performed sex act in front of girl, 12, at bus stop
A PERVERTED 62-year-old has been given a suspended prison sentence after masturbating in front of a 12-year-old girl as she waited at a Bewbush bus stop.
Timothy Cawston, from Railey Road, Northgate, had previously pleaded guilty to performing a sexual act in public.
The offence took place in Dorsten Square on July 11, with Cawston being sentenced on December 19 at Brighton Crown Court.
Brian Noel, prosecuting, told the court a bus driver had seen Cawston masturbating in front of the victim who was sat at the bus stop.
He explained that the girl had given evidence explaining that Cawston had shown her his private parts on three occasions.
CCTV evidence had confirmed the victim’s account.
Mr Noel added that the defendant had a previous conviction in 2012 for sexual assault.
Keith Goodhand, defending, reminded the court of Cawston’s age and the fact that he had pleaded guilty.
He said that his client, who also has two previous convictions for drink driving, had been on a “downward slide” after the breakdown of his marriage which led to him drinking too much, while he had also suffered a severe stroke in 2008.
Mr Goodhand said: “He clearly has physical difficulties and they are self-evident.
“Clearly it is going to be difficult for him if he is given a custodial sentence.”
Mr Cawston, he added, had a “degree of regret” and “has said more than once today ‘I don’t want to go to prison’”.
Mr Goodhand added: “If he goes to prison, what in reality changes in terms of his attitude?”
Judge Anthony Niblett decided to give Cawston a nine-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year supervision order.
He told Cawston: “You must take this opportunity (to turn your life around), otherwise you will be going to prison for a long time.”
Judge Niblett said he had given Cawston credit for pleading guilty and noted that “he is certainly courteous in court”.
He explained that he had taken into consideration the defendant’s very poor health and said that from his experience in dealing with cases of this kind “supervision is very often the best way forward”.
“If there was to be a custodial sentence, it would have very serious practical disadvantageous consequences,” he added.
He noted that Cawston “will not be easy to supervise” and was “conscious of the burden placed on the Probation Service” by the sentence, but said he hoped the supervision order will prevent further offences being committed.
After he discovered he wasn’t going to jail Cawston shouted “thank you your honour” and “happy Christmas”.
November 2014
Man, 62, admits performing sex act outside shops in front of girl, 12
A MAN aged 62 has admitted performing a sex act in front of a child in public.
Timothy Cawston, from Railey Road, Northgate, appeared at Lewes Crown Court last Wednesday (November 5) charged with engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a 12-year-old girl, in Dorsten Square, Bewbush, on July 11.
Cawston pleaded guilty to the offence.
The judge adjourned the case so pre-sentence reports can be carried out.
Cawston was released on bail to next appear at Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on November 28.
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