LEE WILLIAMS

MAN JAILED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL

Lee Williams, aged 49, was convicted of sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl in her sleep.

The girl had previously written about the assault in her diary, which was initially dismissed as creative writing by her teachers when concerns were raised by friends.

The court heard that Williams attacked the girl in 2018 when she tried to sleep, causing her to attempt to cough and make a fuss so she would know she was awake.

He left the scene, returned to touch her again, and afterwards told her, "I knew you'd leave." The girl later confided in a relative, and her mother was informed, leading to police involvement.

Williams was aware of the allegations before his arrest, having written notes claiming he had touched her in his sleep by accident and thought he had touched her hip.

He also expressed remorse and said he had planned to take his own life.

The court was told Williams had drunk and taken drugs before the attack, lost control of his senses, and had no previous criminal history.

He pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child under 13 and was sentenced to three years in prison, with a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and mandatory registration on the Sex Offenders' Register for ten years.