DARLINGTON COACH DRIVER CARL SEWELL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON TEENAGE GIRL
In a case that has shocked the community of Darlington, a local coach driver named Carl Sewell has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after being found guilty of multiple sexual assaults against a teenage girl.The incidents, which spanned over a year, involved disturbing acts of misconduct that took place between September 2018 and September 2019, according to court records.
Prosecutors detailed how Sewell, aged 50, initiated his abusive behavior by grabbing the girl’s hand and placing it on his genitals during one of their encounters.
This initial act marked the beginning of a series of troubling incidents.
The court heard that on a subsequent occasion, Sewell repeated this act, but the girl managed to get up and walk away, indicating her attempt to escape the situation.
The court proceedings revealed that Sewell’s misconduct escalated during another encounter, where he fondled the girl’s breasts while performing a sexual act on himself.
The pattern of abuse continued as he placed his hand between her legs and rubbed her inner thigh, moving closer to her genitals.
The final recorded assault involved Sewell putting his arm around the girl and holding her breast for approximately 30 seconds, an act that left the victim visibly distressed.
Rachel Masters, the prosecutor, stated that the girl confided in her mother about the inappropriate touching, revealing that Sewell had touched her breasts.
The following day, Sewell sent the girl text messages of a sexual nature, further compounding the seriousness of his actions.
Sewell was arrested on September 26 of the previous year after returning to Darlington from a two-week work trip as a coach driver.
During a police search of his electronic devices, authorities discovered that he had been searching for pornography using specific phrases related to the case, which the judge noted as evidence of premeditation.
At the court hearing, Sewell, who resides on Geneva Road in Darlington, pleaded guilty to all five charges of sexual assault.
Judge Paul Watson QC sentenced him to 21 months in custody, accepting the recommendation from the pre-sentence report.
The judge acknowledged that all assaults occurred over the victim’s clothing but emphasized that the pattern of conduct over the year was deeply troubling.
While condemning the gravity of Sewell’s actions, Judge Watson also noted that Sewell appeared to have shown remorse and had come to terms with his misconduct.
As part of his sentence, Sewell was issued an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and was placed on the sex offenders’ register until further notice, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent future offenses.
