DAVID THOMPSON SENTENCED IN MARYPORT FOR ALLEY SEXUAL ASSAULT ON 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In March 2008, David Thompson was sentenced to two years in prison for indecently assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Maryport. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years. Carlisle Crown Court heard that Thompson, 34, who is known by the nickname "Wurzel," was considered a significant threat; the judge described him as posing a "high risk of serious harm to women." The court was told that Thompson, a father of two living on Rydal Avenue, Maryport, grabbed the girl as she was walking home after a night out. He dragged her approximately 30 metres down a dark alleyway, where he told her while she struggled, "What’s wrong with you? It will be all right. I have got plenty of money." He then groped her and attempted to kiss her, but she managed to escape after a passing vehicle disrupted the assault, fleeing the scene crying. The victim has since suffered a loss of confidence and reports waking up screaming at night. Thompson pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge. Defense lawyer Andrew Carney explained that Thompson "has a problem knowing where the boundaries lie between men and women," adding that he recognizes his issues and needs to address them. Mr. Carney acknowledged that Thompson's difficulties stem from the breakdown of his ten-year marriage five years prior, though he emphasized that this did not justify his actions toward the girl.