Paedophile who twice groped a teenage girl in her own home.

Devon Paedophile Sentenced for Groping Teenage Girl

A 34-year-old man from Devon, William Pope, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on Friday for twice sexually assaulting a teenage girl in her Co Armagh home. The sentence will be split with half served in jail and half on licence. Pope was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and banned from working with children.

Pope pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, which occurred between December 2018 and May 2021. The victim disclosed the abuse to a counselor in December 2021, leading to a police investigation.

The court heard that Pope had groped the girl, who was 14 at the time, on two separate occasions while at her home. The first incident involved Pope touching the girl's breasts and putting his hand in her pants. The second incident occurred at a party where Pope carried the intoxicated girl to bed and again groped her breasts.

Despite initially denying the allegations, Pope admitted to the crimes 12 days before his trial was due to begin. The court recognized the aggravating factors of the crime, including the abuse taking place in the girl's own home.

Pope's defense counsel argued for mitigating factors such as his clear record, guilty plea, and remorse. He suggested an intensive probation programme to address the underlying causes of Pope's actions. However, the judge ultimately ruled that a custodial sentence was appropriate.

In addition to the prison sentence, Pope was also subject to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order. This order prohibits him from contacting the victim, moving without permission, and requires him to disclose his convictions to any new partner.