PAUL LONG SENTENCED IN BIRKENHEAD FOR SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON TEENAGERS
A security guard at a funfair was convicted of assaulting two teenage girls in what has been described as "sinister" attacks.Paul Long, a former doorman working at a temporary amusement event in Birkenhead Road, Seacombe, targeted two children during the same evening.
The 59-year-old, described as "large and physically imposing," initially slapped a 15-year-old girl’s bottom while she was receiving first aid, then laughed in her face and pursued her.
Later, he trapped a 14-year-old girl on a Waltzer ride, grabbing her bottom, and later confronted her father when he intervened.
Long was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault following a trial, after the girls had to give evidence and revisit the details of the incidents.
Judge Brian Cummings, QC, stated that the factual basis for sentencing was "one I am myself sure of, having heard the evidence," underscoring that Long exploited his access to children as a security guard to commit these crimes.
The judge also noted that Long "is a large and physically imposing man." The incidents occurred on Thursday, March 28, 2019, when Long, now 61 and residing at Huddleston Close, Woodchurch, Birkenhead, carried out the assaults.
The first girl had cut her foot badly after disembarking from a ride and asked Long for a plaster.
As she returned alone to ask for a second plaster, Long helped her by applying it to her foot, then slapped her bottom and laughed.
He followed her as she rejoined her friends, stopping if she looked at him, until she reached her group.
Judge Cummings described this behavior as "rather sinister." The second girl’s experience involved her sitting on a Waltzer ride with her male cousin when Long unexpectedly sat between them.
Feeling uncomfortable and wanting to disembark, she was prevented from leaving by Long.
During the ride, she became emotional, struggling to breathe and almost crying.
When asked her age, she responded 14, and Long expressed surprise, saying, "I would kiss her if she were older." He then asked if she wanted a kiss before grabbing her bottom.
Her cousin saw her crying, and Long held a safety bar down, trapping her, but she managed to escape.
The girl, distressed and hyperventilating, called her father, who arrived immediately and drove her away.
Judge Cummings noted that Long approached in an aggressive manner, confronting the girl’s father and pushing him back.
Although Long did not face a separate charge for this physical altercation, it was considered an aggravating factor, highlighting his lack of remorse.
Throughout police interviews and at trial, Long denied any wrongdoing, claiming the witnesses were lying.
Prosecutor David Birrell highlighted the emotional impact on the victims.
The first girl admitted she had "pushed it to the back of her mind," but now feels wary walking alone and prefers to be accompanied home.
The second girl described feeling "crap" since the incident, restricting her outings mainly to outings with her parents.
Long has a criminal record with 10 previous convictions covering 13 offences, primarily relating to dishonesty in his youth.
His last conviction, in January 2017, was for causing death by careless driving, after he attempted to assist a man collapsed outside The Crown pub in Birkenhead.
Long stopped his vehicle after noticing Aso Azzizi, 30, collapsed in the street, and while checking on him, Azzizi began to walk away.
Long then attempted a U-turn without proper signaling, which led to Kieran Platt, then 21, speeding in a 30mph zone and colliding with Long’s car, causing Azzizi to be thrown into nearby railings.
Platt was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to four years in prison.
Long received a community order with unpaid work for his role in that incident.
Defence lawyer John Weate explained that the 2017 incident had a lasting impact on Long, who continues to deny the sexual assault charges.
He also highlighted Long’s troubled family background, noting that he worked steadily until 2017 without further convictions and had a history of preventing illegal activities in his security role.
Weate described Long as "a man who can become very emotional at times," suffering from personal difficulties including relationship issues and estrangement from his children, though he maintained a close relationship with a son.
Despite marital strain and a long-term relationship, his partner remained supportive.
Judge Cummings emphasized the betrayal of trust, noting Long’s role as a security guard was to ensure visitors’ safety, which made his actions particularly egregious.
The judge remarked that "he was the very person that the victims in this case should have been able to turn to if sexually assaulted in the fairground, not the person committing these assaults." Long was sentenced to eight months in prison, during which he looked at his girlfriend in the public gallery and shook his head.
Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.
