Builder Sentenced for Sexual Assault of 7-Year-Old Girl

A builder has been sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl on two separate occasions.

Martin Collins, formerly of Lower Henley Road, Caversham, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 in April. The incidents occurred over the 2019/2020 Christmas period.

The court heard how Collins touched the girl's genitals over her clothes on two occasions. The first incident occurred while the girl was sitting on his lap, and the second happened in his car while they were on their way to Screwfix to pick up a toolkit.

A statement from the girl's mother, read by prosecutor Simon Walters, described the lasting impact of the abuse on her daughter. She stated that her daughter has experienced anger outbursts, nightmares, and a loss of trust in people. She no longer trusts people and does not have normal interactions with people.

Lyall Thompson, Collins' defense lawyer, argued that there was no evidence to suggest Collins manipulated the girl. He also claimed that Collins has suffered consequences since his trial in April, including losing friends and having his house graffitied.

Judge Edward Burgess sentenced Collins to three years imprisonment for the two counts of sexual assault. He also placed Collins on the sex offenders register for ten years.

Collins was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday, November 1.