BRADFORD BABY-SITTER DAVID DOWNEY SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS FOR ABUSE

In a case that has sparked widespread outrage within the Bradford community, David Downey, a 41-year-old man from Kirkwall Drive, Holme Wood, was sentenced to just 30 months in prison after being convicted of indecently assaulting a seven-year-old girl he was entrusted to care for as a baby-sitter.

The incident took place in December of the previous year, and Downey had maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, pleading not guilty to the charges. However, the jury found him guilty at Bradford Crown Court last month, leading to his sentencing at Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

During the sentencing, Judge Dobkin emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, "You were placed in a position of trust to baby-sit and while in that position the jury found you guilty of indecent assault. This was a serious assault on a young girl and a breach of trust." The judge also noted that the girl was examined by a medical professional following the assault, and her injuries were described as "of a severe nature."

The family of the young victim, particularly her grandfather who requested anonymity for legal reasons, expressed their profound disappointment and anger over the relatively lenient sentence. The grandfather described the punishment as "ridiculous," adding, "Thirty months is nothing. We believed he would get between five and seven years. The only thing we hope now is that other victims may come forward."

Despite the trauma, the girl has reportedly made a good recovery since the attack. Her grandfather shared that, "Fortunately it happened close to Christmas and she was looking forward to Santa Claus coming, which helped take her mind off the attack." However, he voiced a significant concern: "My worry now is that he could be out in a year’s time and he could re-offend. I think it’s disgraceful."

As part of his sentence, Downey is now registered on the national sex offenders’ register for life. Upon release, he will be required to inform police of his whereabouts and contact details. The community reaction has been one of shock and dismay. A resident of Holme Wood, who preferred to remain anonymous, described Downey as a quiet man and expressed their surprise at the allegations. "We were very surprised," they said. "But now I have heard what happened, I think they should lock him up and throw away the key."

The case has left many residents questioning the adequacy of the sentence, with some fearing that Downey might re-offend given the short prison term. The incident has also reignited discussions about the safety of children and the importance of vigilant supervision in the Bradford area.