David Austin 58

Description

A predatory sex offender who intimately touched a young girl—causing her serious psychological harm—later tried to talk his way out of trouble to avoid being "labelled as a paedophile." David Austin, 58, claimed to be "very shocked" upon arrest and told Hull Crown Court: "I can't understand why I am standing here now."

He denied four sexual assault charges from July 13, 2023, in the Market Weighton area, insisting he merely "tickled" the girl to cheer her up. A jury convicted him after trial.

Prosecutor Benjamin Donnell said the touching was deliberate and no accident. Austin accused the girl of lying.

Mr. Donnell asked: "Are you saying that she has lied to this jury and this court about you groping her?" Austin replied: "Yes." Mr. Donnell asked: "Why would she lie?"

Austin said: "I don't know. I can't understand why I am standing here now. I don't know what else to put it down to."

Mr. Donnell pressed: "The reason she has made these allegations is because they are true. The only person lying in this courtroom is you. Do you have a sexual interest in children? Is that why you did this?"

Austin replied: "Negative." Mr. Donnell said: "You do not want to be labelled as a paedophile." Austin: "No. Negative."

Mr. Donnell added: "You are lying to this jury about what happened that evening. The only reason that you are lying to this jury is that you don't want to get into trouble for something for which you would be labelled a paedophile."

Austin: "No, negative." He noted pleading guilty to past non-sexual offenses and claimed shock at the accusation after his 12:30 a.m. arrest.

The girl's mother stated her daughter, once a "bright, curious girl," changed drastically: "She told me that she wanted to die." The victim, an "innocent young girl," now suffers nightmares.

Defense barrister Rachel Scott said Austin denies the offenses and will likely continue to. He is hardworking, faces losing his 23-year job, leads an isolated life, may lose his home, and has been trouble-free for years.

Judge Mark Bury said of the denial: "He has rolled the dice and lost." The harm was "very significant," justifying immediate custody.

Austin, of Ascot Crescent, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was jailed for two years. He received a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, 10-year restraining order, and must register as a sex offender for 10 years. On bail during trial, he was remanded overnight post-conviction and sentenced the next day.