Man took schoolgirl to a mobile home for sex
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH ASBESTOS-RELATED DISEASES IS GROWING. IN FACT, THERE ARE NOW OVER 5,000 DEATHS IN BRITAIN EACH YEAR FROM SERIOUS CONDITIONS CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS FIBRES.
POLICE looking for a vulnerable young girl found a used condom in a mobile home belonging to a 44-year-old man, a court has heard.
Darren Murphy-Francis denied having sex with the child but forensic tests showed otherwise.
The man from Llanelli has now been jailed for four years.
Swansea Crown Court heard that police looking for a missing schoolgirl went to a mobile home near Pontyclun.
Sophie Hill, prosecuting, said officers knocked on the door but there was no answer.
However, when they looked through the window they saw a man hiding inside.
The court heard the suspect initially told police his name was Darren Thomas before revealing his true identity as Murphy-Francis. In interview he denied doing anything wrong but forensic tests on a condom found in the mobile home showed it contained the defendant’s semen.
There was also DNA from the missing girl on the outside.
Murphy-Francis, of Railway Terrace, Llanelli, had previously pleaded guilty to sexual touching, and that touching being penetration, when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. The court heard he has 15 previous convictions for 27 offences, mainly for motoring and dishonesty matters.
Dyfed Thomas, for Murphy-Francis, said the defendant was a cattle farmer and qualified mechanic.
He said his client now realised he had acted unlawfully and was remorseful for what had happened.
Judge Geraint Walters told Murphy-Francis he had only admitted what he had done “when forensic evidence effectively made it impossible” for him to continue his denials.
He added that he had his doubts whether the defendant was truly remorseful.
Giving the defendant a 20% discount for his guilty plea, the judge sentenced him to four years in prison.
Murphy-Francis will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence.
Murphy-Francis was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.
MESOTHELIOMA is one such disease affecting about 2,500 people in the UK each year. Phillip Gower, a specialist asbestos disease solicitor from Novum Law in Cardiff, outlines five things you should know about mesothelioma and what you should do if you or a family member has been affected:
WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA?
Mesothelioma is a type of incurable cancer of the lining of the lungs or, more rarely, the lining of the abdomen (known as peritoneal mesothelioma). Nearly all cases of mesothelioma are believed to be caused by asbestos exposure.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The symptoms of mesothelioma tend to develop gradually over time. Often, symptoms don’t appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos. They include chest pains, shortness of breath, persistent cough, fatigue, high temperature and sweating (particularly at night), loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss and swollen fingertips.
HOW IS MESOTHELIOMA DIAGNOSED?
The first port of call is your GP. If they suspect mesothelioma, they will refer you to hospital for tests. These may include an X-ray of your chest or stomach, a CT scan to take detailed images of the inside of your body, an examination of the inside of your chest or stomach with a long, thin camera known as a thoracoscopy or laparoscopy. They may also drain some fluid to be tested or take a small sample of tissue (called a biopsy).
HOW IS IT TREATED?
Mesothelioma is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, so treatment is usually focused on controlling the symptoms and prolonging life for as long as possible. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be effective at reducing the size of tumours and killing cancer cells. New therapies are emerging that may have a positive impact on symptoms and survival and there are several clinical trials open in the UK that includes immunotherapy, which helps the immune system to fight the cancer.
WHAT COMPENSATION IS AVAILABLE?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to make a compensation claim. This will compensate you for any reduced quality of life, past and future losses including earnings; care that family members are providing; additional purchases relating to your disease (e.g. mobility aids); any travel expenses to hospital or GP appointments and other associated costs. You may also be able to make a claim if a loved one you were financially dependent on has passed away.
At Novum Law, we are experts in asbestos disease compensation claims. We can even help if you don’t know how you were exposed to asbestos or when it happened. We can also advise on any state benefits you may be entitled to and assist you in claiming these benefits. Based locally in Cardiff, our specialist team can help on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis which means there is no financial risk to you. Call: 02920 972 070 or email pgower@novumlaw.com.