BRAIN MILTON PLYMOUTH OFFENDER ESCAPES JAIL FOR DECADES-OLD SEXUAL ASSAULT IN PLYMOUTH
In a case that has spanned over two decades, Brian Milton, a man from Plymouth, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being convicted of indecently assaulting a young girl nearly 28 years ago.The incident, which took place in Plymouth, was brought to light during a court hearing at Plymouth Crown Court, where Milton appeared before Judge Francis Gilbert QC to face charges related to the assault.
According to the prosecution, Milton, who was 59 at the time of the court hearing, resided at his parents' house on Kirton Place in Efford, Plymouth, a location he still calls home.
The court was informed that Milton had, in the past, pulled down the dungarees of a young girl and touched her private parts without her consent.
During the court proceedings, the prosecutor, Ali Rafati, detailed how Milton then asked the girl, “was that nice?” The young girl, who was the victim in this case, responded with “yes,” but later confided to police that her answer was merely to appease Milton.
The court also heard that Milton had offered the girl money in an attempt to silence or bribe her, but she refused the offer.
The incident was not an isolated event; in 1991, Milton encountered the girl again and apologized for his previous actions, indicating some level of remorse.
The case only came to public attention this year, as it was uncovered following another unrelated incident.
Milton admitted to the charges during the court proceedings.
His defense lawyer, Jason Beale, revealed that Milton had since lost his employment as a bus driver, a position he had held for the past 24 years.
Judge Gilbert acknowledged that the assault occurred “at least 28 years ago” and characterized it as “a one-off” incident.
The judge expressed the view that there was no need for Milton to undergo a sexual rehabilitation course or be subject to a supervisory order, given the age of the offense and the circumstances.
However, he did order Milton to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next five years.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Gilbert credited Milton for his guilty plea and for having the courage to apologize to the girl back in 1991.
The judge emphasized that, although any indecent assault is a serious matter, this particular case involved a single incident on one occasion.
He noted Milton’s recent unemployment and the fact that he had already lost his job, which he considered a form of punishment.
Ultimately, Milton was sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge, meaning he would not serve time in prison but would be subject to certain conditions and supervision for the specified period.
The court’s decision reflected a balance between acknowledging the seriousness of the offense and considering the long passage of time since the incident occurred.
