DENIS WISHART FROM PLYMOUTH JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON TWO GIRLS IN THEIR HOMES
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Plymouth, Denis Wishart, a 41-year-old man, was sentenced to more than five years in prison for sexually assaulting two young girls within their own homes on the same night.The incidents, which took place in August of the previous year, involved inappropriate and indecent contact with the victims, both of whom were under the age of 13.
According to court proceedings, Wishart's actions included indecently touching one girl while her father was nearby, seemingly unaware of what was happening.
The court was informed that both girls continued to suffer from nightmares and emotional distress even eight months after the assaults, highlighting the lasting trauma inflicted upon them.
Judge Paul Darlow, presiding over the case at Plymouth Crown Court, sentenced Wishart to a term of five years and four months.
In his remarks, the judge emphasized the profound impact of the crimes on the young victims, stating, “Both girls need constant reassurance as a result of what happened to them.” The judge also dismissed Wishart’s defense claim that he could not remember the incidents due to alcohol consumption, asserting that the evidence against him was compelling.
Wishart, who resides on Marsh Close in the Marsh Mills area of Plymouth, had previously admitted to three counts of sexually assaulting the two girls during the dates of August 2 and August 3.
The prosecution, led by David Evans, detailed how Wishart indecently touched one girl while she was seated on a sofa, with her friend playing nearby in the same room.
The same night, Wishart allegedly molested the second girl at her own home, this time when her father had fallen asleep next to her.
Further evidence revealed that Wishart was watching a film with the second girl and her father when he committed the assault on the stairs.
Both victims confided in their parents the following day, which led to Wishart’s swift arrest within hours of the incidents.
However, he initially denied any wrongdoing, only admitting to the offenses after police confronted him with forensic evidence several months later.
Investigations uncovered that Wishart had accessed teenage pornography on his computer and read stories involving sexual violence, raising further concerns about his behavior.
The court heard that the victims experienced ongoing nightmares and sleepless nights, and their parents also endured feelings of guilt and distress over the events.
Representing Wishart, lawyer Will Willden stated that his client maintained he could not remember the incidents, attributing his memory loss to drunkenness.
Despite this, he acknowledged the harm caused and the suffering endured by the families involved.
As part of his sentence, Wishart will be required to register as a sex offender for life and will be subject to police monitoring indefinitely, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Plymouth.
