Thursday, February 9, 2012
More quantitative easing sleight of hand
Using Blinds to Dress Up Your Home
Quotes About Worry From Wisdom Makers
Straightforward yet oddly depressing
Submitted by: Markishh
Lorry driver groped teenager
A LORRY driver who groped a schoolgirl in his cab has been jailed for three years.
Neil Franklin, 40 at the time, approached the 13-year-old, complimented her on her looks and told her he could not believe how old she was, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Franklin, of North Street, Bedminster, already had previous convictions for sexual assault, indecent exposure and kidnap by the time he targeted his victim outside her Bristol school on December 6, 2010.
Recorder of Bristol, Judge Neil Ford QC, said: "She was on her way to school and you spoke to her, commented on her looks and said you could not believe she was 13 years old. You invited her into the cab of your lorry, offered to take her out and buy her drinks. You touched her leg and indicated to her that you had an erection. She had the strength of character to resist your advances and you did not force her into a worse situation."
The court heard Franklin then dropped her back off near the school.
Judge Ford said he had "groomed" her – not in the sense normally heard at crown court – but he said it was still a "disgraceful" thing to do. Franklin was found guilty after trial of sexual activity with a child.
The court heard he had a list of serious previous convictions and long prison sentences. In 1992, he was jailed for four and a half years for two offences of wounding with intent. In 1999, he was jailed for five years after he kidnapped and blackmailed a young man who had damaged his car. In 2008, he received a one-year sentence for sexual assault on a 16 year old girl and indecent exposure to her.
Judge Ford said, on balance, he did not consider the 41-year-old a substantial risk of harm to the public, so did not impose an indefinite prison sentence.
Prosecutor Paul Grumbar said although the defendant had denied the charge during his trial, since he was found guilty he had come to accept that what he did was wrong.
Before jailing him for three years, Judge Ford said: "There are no real mitigating circumstances to set against the aggravating features in this case."
Franklin was also disqualified from working with children indefinitely and must sign on the Sex Offender's Register for life.
On his release, he will also have to abide by a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.