May 2014 Lorry driver from Milton Keynes escapes jail for sex assault on 13-year-old girl A lorry driver from Milton Keynes who sexually assaulted a 13 year old girl over ten years ago has been spared jail Simon Merivale, 43, touched the girl over her underwear on one occasion saying: “It is normal to do this.” Merivale, of Aylesbury Street West, Wolverton, was convicted at Luton Crown Court of one charge of indecent assault committed some time between 2002 and 2004. He had no previous convictions. Anne Faul, defending, said Merivale does not accept he carried out the assault, but accepts the jury’s verdict. “He is a torn man who is devastated by this,” she said. Sentencing him, Judge Laura Harris said: “The impact on the victim was significant.” But she said she was able to suspend a jail sentence because he had no previous convictions and had not committed any other offences. She passed a six-month sentence suspended for two years. He was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work. He must also register as a sex offender for seven years and abide by the terms of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from contact with anyone under 16.