‘He has taken my daughter’s innocence and she can never get that back’
HEARTBROKEN MOTHER’S RESPONSE TO ‘REMORSELESS’ PREDATOR’S SENTENCE
THE mother of a young girl who was plied with whiskey by a predatory businessman said he never showed any remorse for taking her daughter’s innocence and putting them through months of “hell”.
Adam Plant, director of East Riding Horse Boxes Ltd and producer of upmarket motor homes, gave the girl a glass of whiskey before groping her and sending a string of highly sexualised texts.
He later deleted screenshots of incriminating messages on her phone and tried to convince the girl’s mother to drop the complaint.
Plant, 42, of Skirlaugh Road, Old Ellerby, was found guilty by a jury of three charges of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16, engaging in sexual communication with a child and perverting the course of justice.
Plant was jailed for 30 months for his sick crimes at his sentencing at Hull Crown Court.
The mum of the young girl, who cannot be identified, spoke of their relief at the jail term, but said he did not show any emotion as their heartbreaking victim impact statements were read to the court.
“I was really nervous and anxious about going and seeing him again in person, and about the outcome as I couldn’t help but worry in case it was a suspended sentence,” she said.
She said the only time he showed emotion during the entire trial and sentencing was being told he had to sign the register.
“I watched him the whole time and there was never any remorse, and no emotion. “The only time he showed emotion was being told he has to sign the sex offender’s register. He closed his eyes and put his head down at that.
“The rest of the time he was just stony-faced and cold. He didn’t show anything, nothing. Even when they read out the victim statements, which were completely from the heart and about how heartbroken we all are, he just didn’t care.” The mum said one of Plant’s relatives was sitting two rows behind her in court, and when her daughter’s statement was read out, they muttered “lying cow” loud enough for the mum to hear it. The mum said: “He didn’t even know her. I know families stick together but a jury of 12 unanimously found him guilty, they can’t deny it.”
She said Plant, who has always denied the crimes, even lied in court to try and convince the judge to keep him out of jail.
“He got a lot of people to write references for him, and tried claiming he was a carer helping his parents with his disabled brother, which is a load of rubbish as he doesn’t even see him.”
But she said she felt huge relief that the judge jailed him.
“I was hoping for a longer sentence and would have preferred five years, but we were relieved he got a custodial sentence and has to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, that will definitely screw up his life.”
She said her daughter is suffering from the emotional impact of the past eight months of “hell”.
“She is scared still, but she is also relieved he is now in jail.
“I am constantly locking the door and I have been so paranoid that he will find out where we live, so it is a big relief. But it’s not over for us.
“My daughter is having help and counselling, she is emotionally scarred. I think she will really struggle trusting men again.
“Now that he has been sentenced we can try and draw a line under it and move on, but it is something we will never get over but have to learn to live with.
“We will never forget it. It is always there in my mind. He has taken her innocence and that’s something that we can never get back.”
She added: “I just really hope this conviction screws up his business and he suffers like he has made us suffer.
“I tell my daughter every day that she is brave for coming forward and speaking about this.”
The only time he showed emotion was being told he has to sign the sex offender’s register Victim’s mum