MALDON MAN LAWRENCE MCNEIL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CHILD IN CHELMSFORD

In July 2017, Lawrence McNeil, a 29-year-old from Maldon, was sentenced to two years in prison after sexually abusing a five-year-old girl in her bedroom. McNeil, who resides on Foster Road in Great Totham, was convicted of sexually assaulting the young girl last August. During the assault, he instructed her not to tell anyone about what had happened.

Initially denying the charge of sexual assault on a child under 13, McNeil was found guilty by a jury on June 21 of that year. He subsequently admitted guilt and was sentenced on Monday, July 17, at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Prosecutor Diana Pigott stated, "The victim was five at the time of the incident and was assaulted in her room. She was told not to tell anyone about what had happened."

Judge David Turner QC addressed the court, saying, "On June 21, the jury convicted you of the incident that happened last August in her home in an opportunistic and shameful attack — you took sexual advantage of the victim."

He continued, "You were still denying the incident as little as two weeks ago. She had to give evidence in court at just six years old. You crossed a boundary you knew fully well you should never have crossed and have been unable to face up to what you have done."

The judge described the act as "opportunistic and exploitive," emphasizing that McNeil encouraged silence from the child, who had trusted him. "You crossed a boundary you knew fully well you should never have crossed and have been unable to face up to what you have done," Judge Turner added.

He characterized the incident as primarily isolated and brief, suggesting it was out of character and occurred in a moment of insanity.

In addition to the two-year prison sentence, McNeil was ordered to comply with a sexual harm prevention order for five years, sign the sex offenders register for ten years, and was subject to a restraining order preventing contact with his victim or her mother for five years.