PHILIP POTTER FROM MANSFIELD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGER IN NOTTINGHAM

In January 2020, a serious incident involving Philip Potter, a man from Mansfield, came to light through court proceedings that highlighted the dangers of inappropriate conduct towards minors. The case centered around Potter, who was 51 years old at the time, and his inappropriate interactions with a 14-year-old girl.

According to court reports, Potter engaged in a series of troubling behaviors that included sending sexual messages to the young girl, which he later admitted to. The messages contained expressions of affection, with Potter telling her, 'he loved her,' and revealing that he 'couldn’t stop thinking about her.' The girl, in an effort to protect herself, took screenshots of these messages and subsequently deleted them, as was revealed during the proceedings at Nottingham Crown Court.

The situation escalated when Potter physically touched the girl, despite her wearing trousers. He touched her thigh and knee, and made comments calling her 'sexy.' Witnesses described an unsettling scene where Potter knelt beside her, which she found strange and uncomfortable. Miss Pritchard, the prosecutor, noted that Potter had been drinking at the time and described his actions as an attempt to initiate a kiss, likening it to scenes from movies. The girl instinctively raised her hand to stop him and firmly said 'no.'

Despite these actions, Potter continued to communicate with her afterward, sending messages of apology and seemingly acknowledging that his behavior was inappropriate. The court heard that Potter, who resides on Clifton Grove in Mansfield, was arrested and pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual assault.

The victim, whose identity is protected for her safety and privacy, provided a statement expressing her feelings of hurt and distress. She described how the incident 'played constantly on her mind,' affecting her sleep and eating habits, and causing her to want to block out what had happened.

Importantly, the court clarified that the offense was not related to Potter’s employment, and he had no previous convictions. As a result, he was sentenced to a three-month prison term, which was suspended for two years. Additionally, Potter was ordered to complete 40 days of rehabilitation activities and was subject to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order, aimed at protecting the community from any future incidents.

This case underscores the importance of safeguarding minors and the legal consequences faced by those who breach their trust in such a manner, especially in the context of Mansfield and Nottingham.