Man jailed for school sex attacks
A 30-year-old man who sexually attacked an 11-year-old girl in the playground when he was a pupil at the school has been jailed for 18 months.
Scott Holmes, who lived in Lidget Green, Bradford, when he was a child, admitted four offences of indecent assault when he was aged between 11 and 14.
Bradford Crown Court heard today that the offences were sample counts against two girls, dating back 20 years.
Prosecutor Nick Worsley said Holmes, now of Caithness, Scotland, pleaded guilty to the charges on February 28, three days before he was due to stand trial.
Mr Worsley said Holmes sexually assaulted one girl in the playground at their primary school.
Another offence happened when he was playing hide and seek with a group of youngsters.
Mr Worsley said both girls, now young women, had since suffered depression and eating disorders.
One turned to drink, became angry and upset, and took an overdose because of what Holmes did, and the other suffered panic attacks, depression and had self-harmed.
Mr Worsley said the offences came to light last summer. Holmes was interviewed by the police while serving a jail sentence in Scotland for unrelated matters and had been in custody since.
He had a long record for dishonesty and burglary but had never committed another sexual offence.
Mr Worsley told the court although both girls said Holmes had sex with them he could not be charged with rape for offences committed at that time.
Stephen Couch said in mitigation Holmes found it difficult to face up to what he had done.
"He has been devastated and tried to bury his memories of this abuse," Mr Couch said.
He said Holmes's admissions of guilt had spared the women the ordeal of giving evidence.
Judge Robert Bartfield said both victims felt their lives had been blighted.
Holmes was ordered to sign on the Sexual Offences Register for ten years.
8:32pm Friday 28th March 2008
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