KARL SNOW FROM BALBY, DONCASTER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS NEAR SCHOOL AND MEADOWHALL

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Doncaster, Karl Snow, a 29-year-old resident of Cedar Road, Balby, has been sentenced to a total of 20 months in prison following his conviction for multiple sexual assaults involving young girls. The incidents took place over a span of two years and involved victims both near a local school and at the well-known Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield.

Snow was found guilty of five counts of sexual assault against girls all under the age of 16. He admitted to sexually assaulting three girls aged 12, 13, and 15 in the vicinity of a school, but the court also convicted him of two additional assaults that occurred at Meadowhall Shopping Centre. These latter incidents involved an 11-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl, respectively.

The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Snow’s actions. The first recorded incident occurred on March 15, 2013, when Snow followed a 12-year-old girl as she was walking home from school. He then proceeded to grab her breast without warning and quickly walked away, leaving her distressed. Less than three months later, on June 3, 2013, Snow approached a 13-year-old girl near a school and made a lewd comment, saying, “You’re sexy,” before fleeing the scene. Just three days after that, on June 6, 2013, he targeted a 15-year-old girl walking to school, grabbing her breast and then running off.

The incidents at Meadowhall Shopping Centre began on April 2, 2015, when Snow assaulted an 11-year-old girl. He grabbed her bottom inside a shop and then offered to buy her anything she wanted in exchange for sex, a disturbing attempt at coercion. On July 27 of the same year, Snow was caught on CCTV following a 12-year-old girl before grabbing her bottom, further demonstrating his predatory behavior. The footage played a crucial role in the case, providing clear evidence of his actions.

During the trial, Hannah Lynch, the prosecutor, read out a victim impact statement from the 11-year-old girl assaulted at Meadowhall. The young victim expressed her fear and loss of confidence, stating that she no longer felt safe visiting the shopping centre without an adult. She described her feelings of shock and tears at the time, revealing how the incident had profoundly affected her sense of security. She explained that Meadowhall, once a place of enjoyment, had become a source of fear, leading her to avoid returning for five or six months.

In mitigation, Snow’s defense lawyer, Gordon Stables, highlighted that Snow had no previous criminal record and expressed remorse, stating, “He feels utter shame and embarrassment for his actions.” Despite this, the court sentenced Snow to 20 months in prison, with the judge, Recorder Andrew Baker QC, emphasizing that two of the incidents were aggravated by Snow’s verbal comments, which added to the severity of his misconduct.

Furthermore, Snow was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order for five years, placed on the sex offenders’ register for a decade, and banned indefinitely from working with children. These measures aim to protect the community and prevent any future offenses by Snow, who now faces the consequences of his disturbing actions in Doncaster and Sheffield.