SEX OFFENDER TRIED TO BRIBE 10-YEAR-OLD VICTIM WITH GAMING TOKENS
A Barnsley resident has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy, and after the incident, he offered the child ‘gaming tokens’ as a bribe to carry on with the abuse.During the court hearing, Judge Graham Reeds KC detailed the case, stating: “You made him sit on your knee, put your hands down his trousers and touched his penis…you offered him money to allow it to carry on, well not real money but money for use on a game, but he refused.” Prosecutor Nicola Quinney explained that 21-year-old Bryon Shepherd had attempted to buy the boy’s silence with in-game currency.
The sexual assault was interrupted when someone returned to the scene.
In police interviews, the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described Shepherd’s persistent abuse, which lasted a short time, as told by the prosecutor.
It was also revealed that Shepherd was on bail for unrelated charges at the time of the attack.
One bail condition prohibited Shepherd from contacting any minors under 18, although the nature of the previous allegations was not disclosed.
The victim’s mother, whose name cannot be shared, spoke in court, expressing feelings of inadequacy and guilt, believing she had failed her son.
She hopes her son will recover and not be haunted by Shepherd’s actions.
The prosecution noted that Shepherd has previous convictions dating back to 2013, including possession of an offensive weapon, battery, and criminal damage.
He pleaded guilty earlier to a sexual assault of a child under 13.
Defending, Thomas Penman stated that Shepherd has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which makes him impulsive and seeks thrill, citing an example of him running across a motorway.
He claimed that ASD could reduce Shepherd’s culpability but was questioned by the judge, who found no clear link between his diagnosis and his offending.
Mr Penman mentioned that Shepherd has served 145 days in custody on remand and that prison might be particularly hard for him because of his ASD.
However, a medical report indicated Shepherd was coping relatively well, owing to the prison’s structure and working opportunities.
While Shepherd’s defence admitted he has not fully accepted his guilt, they maintained his guilty plea and indicated that conditions such as a Sexual Harm Prevention Order could help reduce the risk of future offenses.
Ultimately, Judge Reeds sentenced Shepherd, of Grange Road, Barnsley, to 18 months in prison for the harm caused to the child and his family, emphasizing that the only suitable punishment was incarceration, remarking, “You have shown no remorse.” He was also given a 10-year restraining order preventing contact with the victim or his family, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and will be required to register as a sex offender for the same period.
