Sex attack sentence is slammed

Mar 23 2008 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

A JUDGE has been slammed for handing out a “soft sentence” to a sex attacker who targeted a teenage girl.

David Thompson, 34, grabbed his victim on a night out and dragged her down an alley where he carried out his terrifying assault.

Judge Paul Batty QC at Carlisle Crown Court described Thompson, whose nickname is “Wurzel”, as posing a “high risk of serious harm to women” before sentencing him to two years in jail. He could be out in just 12 months for good behaviour.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham was stunned by the sentence. He said: “Anyone who is such a high risk to women should be put away for a long period of time.

“But this seems to be an incredibly lenient sentence

“I imagine that it’s very frustrating for the police and Crown Prosecution Service. Their job is to catch these criminals and prosecute them and the judge’s job to sentence them appropriately. It doesn’t seemed to have happened in this case.” The court heard how Thompson struck in Maryport, Cumbria, dragging his 16-year-old victim 30 metres down a dark alley.

When she resisted he said: “What’s wrong with you? It will be all right. I have got plenty of money.”

She managed to struggle free from his grip when he was distracted by a passing car in a nearby street.

According to the prosecution, the girl has lost her self-confidence and often woke up at night screaming in fear since her ordeal in October last year.

Thompson, of Maryport, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault at an earlier hearing.

In mitigation defence barrister Andrew Carney said Thompson “has a problem knowing where the boundaries lie between men and women” which he needs to address.”

Mr Carney said the break-up of Thompson’s 10-year marriage five years ago had badly affected him.

Thompson was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

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