A PEMBROKESHIRE man who rubbed himself against a child, simulating intercourse has been jailed.
Craig Jenkins of Maes Ingli, Newport, had previously pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault against a child, but changed his plea on the morning of his trial.
On Monday, February 6, Merthyr Crown Court heard how the offences go back to 2003 when 54-year-old Jenkins was living in Cardiff.
For the Crown Prosecution Service, Clare Wilks, KC, told the court how Jenkins would assault the child whilst his parents were attending church services.
Jenkins used the opportunity of having the house to himself to invite a child and their siblings to his home to play on the playstation with him.
Ms Wilks then goes on to say that the defendant would ask the other children to go and check downstairs to see if his parents were home, and in the time that he was alone with the child he would rub his body against herself in a manner that imitated intercourse.
Jenkins would hold the girl’s hands above her head, and whilst she was fully clothed, would rub himself over her body.
In an attempt to disguise what was really happening, the defendant would then tickle her.
Ms Wilks, told the court how the girl, who was 9 at the time of the offences, was too young to realise what was happening to her.
During mitigation, Nicola Powell, KC, referred to her client as ‘vulnerable’ and said he had ‘buried his head in the sand’.
Ms Powell told the court how Jenkins was 34 when the crimes were committed and explained that he had learning difficulties.
She added that he knew the difference between right and wrong, before adding: “this is a man who needs help and support.
“He did this as a form of sexual excitement and naivety.”
In a victim impact statement read out to the court, the woman said: “What I’ve been subjected to has scarred me for life.”
Jenkins was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he will have to serve half in custody with the remaining duration on licence.
He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
