WAYNE HAYWOOD OF BEDWORTH SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In April 2009, Wayne John Haywood, a resident of Bedworth, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl during a celebration of his 40th birthday. On November 10, Haywood, who had been drinking heavily, invited the teenager to sit on his knee, and subsequently touched her genitals by pressing his hands down her trousers. Warwick Crown Court was told that Haywood had previously been imprisoned for 14 months in 1994 for abusing another 13-year-old girl.

The court determined that Haywood’s full address should not be published after his elderly mother was physically assaulted by vigilantes who had read about the case in the press. Following the incident, Haywood handed himself to police a few days later and pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual activity with a female under 16.

In addition to his prison sentence, Haywood was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and issued a sexual offenses prevention order, which prohibits him from having any unapproved contact or being left unsupervised with any child under 16.

His defense lawyer, Andrew Smith, stated: “Mr Haywood expresses his sincere remorse for what happened. His own acts have brought profound consequences on his life. It’s cost him the long-term relationship with his then-fiancée, and he no longer sees the young child they had together. He is also caring for his mother, who suffered a stroke as a result of what’s happened.” Smith also noted that Haywood was known for donating his time to charities, including those focused on children's causes.

Judge David Foskett, delivering the sentence, remarked: “In a few uncontrolled moments you threw away everything you had. Though the incident appears to be isolated, there’s a predatory aspect to you as far as teenage girls are concerned. Given what happened 15 years ago, I’m concerned how you might be helped to resolve the unresolved issues.”