April 2020

Man jailed for sex attack which had profound effect on teen victim

A schoolgirl took an overdose and now has to sleep with the light on and door open after she fell victim to a sexual attack

David Bowery was 33 at the time when he sexually assaulted the child, who was then just 13, in December 2017.

Norwich Crown Court heard the victim, who cannot be identified, was horrified to find herself the victim of an assault by the defendant and told him to “get off”.

She managed to get away later told a her parents about the incident.

Claire Matthews, prosecuting, said the victim outlined the “profound” affect the attack had upon her in an impact statement.

She has been referred to the mental health team and has received treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.

Since the incident she must now also sleep “with the doors open and lights on” and also “took an overdose” in the run up to a potential trial date in the case.

Bowery, now 35, of Bridge Close, Briston, near Melton Constable, appeared for sentence on Tuesday (April 28) having previously admitted the offence.

The hearing was conducted over Skype during the coronavirus lockdown by Judge Andrew Shaw who said the offence had a “profound” affect on the victim, adding there was “no doubt in my mind what you did caused her to suffer severe psychological harm”.

He said Bowery was a “dangerous” offender in that he posed a high risk of committing sexual offences against children in the future.

Judge Shaw passed an extended sentence of seven years and four months on Bowery which was made up of four years and four months custody and three years extended licence.

Andrew Oliver, mitigating for Bowery, who has 17 previous convictions for 24 offences, said the defendant wanted to apologise to the victim and her family for the upset he had caused them all.

Bowery told probation that he could not remember the incident although Mr Oliver accepted it might be that he does not want to remember what it is he has done.

He said that Bowery had no previous convictions for any sexual offences.

Bowery was also made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

April 2020

Order made to protect public from convicted Norwich sex offender

A man jailed after he admitted sexual offences against a teenage girl has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Brandon Fake, 21, met the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons but was under 16 at the time, on the internet and became involved in a sexual relationship.

Fake, of Elizabeth Fry Road, Norwich, was jailed for 27 months in March after he previously admitted three counts of sexual activity of a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming between September and the end of December last year. Fake appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Wednesday (April 29) via videolink over Skype when he was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for 10 years.

Judge Katharine Moore said it was necessary “to protect members of the public from sexual harm from you”.

December 2019

Man, 24, caught secretly trying to film boy in swimming pool changing room

A man was caught attempting to secretly film a 12-year-old boy in a swimming pool changing room, a court heard.

Hayden Richardson, 24, tried to film the boy by putting his phone under the cubicle door at the Oasis Sports and Leisure Centre, in Hunstanton, but the boy’s father saw what was happening and helped apprehend Richardson, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said that police were called and when Richardson’s phone was analysed along with an iPad in his bag they found he had carried out other secret filming in the changing rooms, on previous occasions.

Mr Youell said they also linked him to a complaint by another 12-year-old boy on September 15, last year, when the boy had noticed a mobile phone propped up against a shoe and an iPad which was attempting to film him from under the cubicle.

Mr Youell said that police also found he had downloaded indecent images of children on his devices.

Richardson of Nordelph, Downham Market, admitted voyeurism and downloading indecent images of children.

Judge Katharine Moore said that his offending had been serious and said people should be able to use changing rooms in safety: “They are entitled to getting changed free from your prying eyes. It is wholly unacceptable behaviour.”

She said his actions could deeply affect his victims and he had carried out the secret filming on more than one occasion.

Judge Moore added: “It is clear you are sexually attracted to young boys aged about 12.”

She said it was important to protect the public from any risk Richardson posed and she said the best way to achieve this was to make sure he got help he needed, so he did not offend again.

She imposed a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

She also made him subject to a sexual harm prevention order which will monitor his internet use and also ordered that he be on the sex offender’s register for 10 years.

She also ordered the confiscation of the devices seized.