November 2013: Now living in Lakenheath, Norfolk under a new surname August 2009 Paeodophile jailed for sex attack on girl, six A PAEDOPHILE left his victim so traumatised she began to self harm, a court heard yesterday. David Budgen, 61, from Kennet Avenue, Greenmeadow, abused a six-year-old girl at a party. Swindon Crown Court heard Budgen coaxed the child into performing a sex act in 2005. Lynne Matthews, prosecuting, told the court Budgen had been drinking heavily at a party when the incident occurred. After the assault he attempted to discourage the youngster from telling anyone by saying to her, “I am a 60-year-old man, you are a child and no-one will believe you”. Miss Matthews said the girl revealed “her secret” to her family and they contacted the police. She added as a result of the attack the child, who is now 10, had started to self harm, had suicidal thoughts and had also been blaming herself for what had happened. Sean Hammond, defending, said the offence was not pre-meditated and added Budgen had not groomed the young victim in any way. He said Budgen had been drinking before the assault took place and he then “absented himself” from the party afterwards. Mr Hammond said: “He immediately realised what he was doing was wrong. He had been drinking. Thereafter he showed immediate remorse.” Since the incident came to light he said his client had made two attempts to commit suicide and had been hospitalised as a result of an attempted overdose. Budgen had taken early retirement and he and his wife, who is standing by him, planned ultimately to move abroad. Mr Hammond urged the court to not follow sentencing guidelines but to instead impose a suspended sentence to allow Budgen to go on a sex offenders’ course. “He is remorseful, he is deeply ashamed of his actions and is saddened as well with the effect that it is having on his wife,” he said. Budgen pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a child under 13 and was jailed for three years. Judge Douglas Field said: “This is a serious offence. The victim was only six years old. “One has to take into account the effect on this little girl which I have read in depressing detail in the victim impact statement.” Budgen was disqualified from ever working with children and told to register as a sex offender for life. Judge Field also imposed a sexual offences prevention order, which bans Budgen from having contact with the victim or any person under 16 unless they are with a parent who is aware of his conviction.