A paedophile manipulated a child with sweets and gifts before sexually abusing her, a court has heard. Michael Phillips left his young victim with severe psychological damage after kissing her, touching her chest, and rubbing his genitals on her before convincing her that his sick offences were her fault.
The young girl's ordeal left her feeling suicidal and she attempted to take her life on two occasions, blaming Phillips for "[taking] away my childhood and my trust in the world." Phillips, 63, of Avenida Dez Mar, Alicante, appeared at Newport Crown Court for sentencing having been charged with seven counts of indecent assault. He had denied all charges, maintaining that he was the victim of false allegations, but was later found guilty of all counts by a jury following a six-day trial.
Read more: Get the latest court cases sent to your email inbox with our Crime & Punishment newsletter
The court heard how between over a three-year period around two decades ago Phillips carried out a series of offences against his victim at a property in Cardiff. Through buying her sweets and gifts and giving her money he showed the girl "apparent kindness" before manipulating and sexually abusing her.
He kissed the child passionately while also cuddling her and touching her chest. The offending persisted with Phillips also removing his victim's trousers as well as his own before standing behind her and rubbing his erect penis on her legs.
After sexually abusing the girl Phillips would lead her to believe that what had happened was her fault and that she had done something wrong. This emotional manipulation left her feeling "confused and scared".
An impact statement read out in court on the victim's behalf told how she had been given "a life sentence" by Phillips as she struggled to come to terms with being "groomed and manipulated" by him. She also explained how she had been left feeling suicidal as a child and has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder while also suffering from flashbacks.
"As a young girl I didn't understand. I was confused and scared. I didn't know what to do to stop it. It felt like I had done something wrong and I became angry with life. It is a life sentence what he did to me. For many years he made me feel like it was my problem. It has taken me a long time to realise that it was not my fault.
"He has taken away my childhood and my trust in the world," she added, before telling him: "You no longer scare me or control my feelings."
Janet McDonald, prosecuting, said there was "evidence of severe psychological damage" caused by Phillips with the victim attempting to take her own life on more than one occasion. The court also heard that the defendant had previous convictions for indecent assault for which he had spent time in prison. He had been released shortly before the time these offences began.
In mitigation Hilary Roberts, for Phillips, said his client had accepted his fate and knew that he would be handed a "substantial" prison sentence. However he added that the defendant had, since his offences, relocated to Spain where he had "moved on" to lead a "perfectly normal life".
Judge Lucy Crowther told the defendant he was a "bully and a coward" who believed that he was the victim of false allegations after "taking advantage" of the child and manipulating her. "She trusted you and you showed her apparent kindness," she said. "It was not real kindness. You were creating opportunities that you knew in due course you would be able to take advantage of. That affected her for the rest of her life.
"You talked to her about sexual intercourse and you frightened her. You manipulated her for your own sexual gratification. She had great courage to face you, the bully and coward you still are."
Phillips was sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment. He will serve two-thirds of this in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder of his sentence in the community.
The 63-year-old will be on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order against his victim as well as an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which will prevent him from living in any household with a child under 18 without the approval of social services and prohibit him from communicating with children under 18 or seeking employment where any child under 18 is also employed.
For confidential support the Samaritans can be contacted for free around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123.
READ NEXT:
Evil paedophile recorded himself raping young children before sharing photos and videos online
-
Delivery driver surrounded and attacked by armed gang
- Online drug dealer who used NHS logo and called himself the Narcotic Health Service busted by FBI
-
Predatory sex offender seen 'loitering in changing rooms and giving sweets to children'
- Drug dealer's trousers fell down in police scuffle to reveal stash hidden in pants
You can sign up to our regular Crime and Punishment newsletter here while this interactive tool allows you to check the latest crime statistics for your area:
