TEIGNMOUTH MAN RICHARD GRIFFITHS JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCE IN TORBAY

A man from Teignmouth, Richard Griffiths, has been sentenced to prison for the sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl. The incident occurred during a visit to a house in Torbay, where Griffiths assaulted the child. He denied two charges of sexually assaulting a child under 13 but was convicted after a trial held in December. He has now been sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.

During the sentencing at Exeter Crown Court, a victim personal statement was read aloud by the child's mother, highlighting the severe impact on her daughter. The mother stated, "This has caused my family immense stress and trauma. My daughter has suffered mental trauma and doesn't sleep well." She also mentioned that the girl has become distrustful of men and prone to anger outbursts. "I feel my daughter's innocence has been taken away from her in such a way that her childhood is ruined and her memories stolen," she added.

The offence took place in 2019. Prosecutor Ms. Bathsheba Cassel explained that Griffiths, who was drinking the night before the assault, twice touched the child inside her clothes. Griffiths was arrested after the girl disclosed what had happened to her parents.

At the time of the offence, Griffiths, of Barnpark Terrace, had previous convictions related to cannabis cultivation and was under a suspended sentence. His defense attorney, Mr. Richard Crabb, described Griffiths as a divorced man who had not exhibited such behavior before, characterizing the offence as 'opportunistic rather than planned.'

Judge Peter Johnson commented on Griffiths' demeanor during the trial, stating, "You stood trial and the jury disbelieved you," and noted that the young girl had suffered psychological harm as a consequence of the incident.

As part of his sentence, Griffiths was subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his access to children, and he is also required to sign the sex offender register. He will serve half of his sentence in prison and the remaining portion on licence.