PAUL LUSTY FROM CHELMSFORD AND ST ALBANS SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON GIRL UNDER 16

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Chelmsford and St Albans, Paul Lusty, aged 46, was sentenced after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16. The incident took place in a flat located in St Albans, where Lusty, who was acquainted with the victim, took her from school and brought her to the residence of a friend named Ted.

It was revealed during the proceedings at St Albans Crown Court that Lusty was aware of Ted’s criminal past, which included a conviction for a child sex offence committed 40 years earlier. Court documents indicated that Lusty had previously discussed the girl’s physical development with Ted, making comments about her figure and breasts, which added a disturbing context to the case.

According to prosecutor Andrew Howarth, the atmosphere in the flat was initially casual, with Lusty, Ted, and the girl engaging in laughter and joking. However, the mood shifted when the girl announced she needed to leave at 5 pm to attend a club. As she was leaving, Lusty’s behavior became inappropriate; he grabbed her tights and pulled them down to her knees. He then proceeded to take hold of her top, inserted his finger inside her bra, and exposed her breasts, saying “Look.”

After the incident, the girl left the flat without informing her mother about what had transpired. Meanwhile, Ted, who was present during the assault, was reportedly troubled by what had happened. He later reflected on the incident, sleeping on it before making the decision to contact the police the following day.

The girl was interviewed by authorities and initially believed Lusty was “clowning around,” not realizing the seriousness of his actions. Lusty was subsequently arrested and taken into custody. During police interviews, he denied any wrongdoing. However, on the day his trial was scheduled to commence, Lusty pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual assault, which occurred on May 18 of the previous year.

Lusty’s criminal history included convictions for grievous bodily harm (GBH) and theft, but notably, he had no prior sexual offences. His defense lawyer, Catherine Bradshaw, highlighted that Lusty was unemployed and had not worked for several years, having previously been employed as a laborer. She also emphasized his low IQ of 68 and a mild learning disability, describing the incident as a “one-off” occurrence.

Judge Marie Catterson sentenced Lusty to five months in prison, suspended for two years. As part of his sentence, Lusty is required to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service and attend ten sessions of Education and Training. Additionally, he is prohibited from having any contact with girls under the age of 16 for a period of seven years and will be registered on the Sex Offender Register for the same duration.