MARTIN BRIGGS OF BRADFORD SENTENCED TO NEARLY FOUR YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE
A 56-year-old man from Bradford, Martin Briggs, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for sexually abusing a girl.Judge Andrew Hatton sentenced Briggs to 46 months, stating, "Her whole life has been turned upside down by your depravity." Briggs, of Madison Avenue, Holme Wood, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault against the girl, with one charge covering multiple instances of abuse.
Prosecutor Abigail Langford informed Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday that the victim confided in a family member and a youth worker about Briggs’s actions.
She revealed that Briggs had grabbed her breasts and made sexualised comments.
Briggs remained silent when questioned by police and initially denied any wrongdoing.
However, he pleaded guilty on the day of his trial after the girl had been cross-examined, which is now standard legal practice.
Timothy Jacobs, Briggs’s barrister, described him as "effectively a man of good character" with no similar prior offenses, only some motoring convictions from many years ago.
Mr.
Jacobs added, "It’s a matter of great sadness that he has let himself go in this way." He explained that Briggs was experiencing significant financial stress, debts, and was viewing adult pornography.
He also had serious health and mobility issues, leading to a solitary lifestyle.
Judge Hatton noted that Briggs’s offending included touching the girl indecently and making sexual comments, with two offences reflecting multiple occasions.
He revealed that Briggs had denied the allegations until just before the jury was to be sworn in.
The judge also mentioned, "He told her not to tell anyone else." The victim was frightened and has since self-harmed and suffered depression as a result of the abuse.
The court ordered Briggs to sign the sex offender register for life and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order without any time limit.
