Jail for man who sexually assaulted girls at party

A MACHINE driver who drunkenly groped two schoolgirls at a house party has been jailed for 18 months.

Richard Ball (24), of Crescent End, Thurcroft, groped and made inappropriate advances towards the girls, who were aged 12 and 13, at the party in February last year.

He admitted five counts of non-penetrative sexual activity with a child during an earlier hearing at Sheffield Crown Court and was sentenced last Friday (20).

On the night of the incident, Ball had been out drinking with friends before going to the house party.

Judge Michael Slater said: “It doesn’t seem you were excessively under the influence of alcohol, but when you return to the dying embers of the party, there was your partner and the two complainants present.” 

The judge said Ball had convinced his partner to go for a shower so he could make advances towards the schoolgirls and made inappropriate remarks to them.

“When one girl went upstairs to the bathroom to use the toilet you locked the door, you tried to kiss her and put your hand down the back of her trousers, all that being against her will,” Judge Slater said.

Ball turned his attention to the other girl and a similar incident unfolded in the kitchen.

“You attempted to inappropriately kiss her and put your hands down her shorts,” added Judge Slater.

He said the girls had been confused and upset by his actions.

Mitigating, Mr Robert Smith, said the machine driver was a young man of previous good character.

Mr Smith said he was “bitterly ashamed of himself”, adding: “His only explanation to himself on this matter was it was because of the alcohol he consumed.”

Judge Slater jailed Ball for 18 months and handed him restraining orders against his victims.

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