Sex predator avoids jail for abuse
Girl, who has undergone counselling tells court: ‘I have never felt so low’
A SEXUAL predator who ‘groomed’ a young girl over a period of months, leaving her life in tatters, walked away from court with his liberty.
‘Weird’ Shaun Toomer, 59, denied sexual assault and attempting to incite a child into sex after groping the child’s upper leg and forcing the girl to touch his groin area at a remote location.
But jurors at Portsmouth Crown Court saw through the lies and found him guilty following a trial in August.
At his sentencing hearing on Thursday, the court heard how Toomer, of Howerts Close, Warsash, ‘wanted things to go further’ when trying to seduce the girl at Strawberry Field, Warsash, between January and March last year.
Toomer’s defence barrister Charles Gabb made the admission as he pleaded with judge Timothy Mousley QC not to send the defendant to jail.
‘It is a matter of great mercy that things did not go further,’ Mr Gabb said. ‘He wanted it to go further but it is to the great credit of the girl for stopping it.
‘A “no” was taken at that point.’
But the schoolgirl — who was forced to confront her abuser when giving evidence during the trial — still revealed the ordeal had a significant impact on her life.
In a statement read out to court by prosecutor Matthew Lawson, the victim said: ‘The whole situation has affected me tremendously and I now realise just how serious the offences were.
‘Every day I feel low and get upset and my school grades have been affected. I lash out and overreact to the smallest of things and go from angry to sad as a consequence of his actions.’
The underage girl, who has been having counselling, went on to say she ‘did not feel safe’ any more and now ‘lacked confidence’.
She added: ‘There were moments where I thought no-one believed me. It makes me sick he did not take responsibility. I have never felt this low — it’s not fair on any of (my family).’
Judge Mousley told Toomer: ‘During the victim’s evidence in the trial it was crystal clear she was telling the truth about what you did.
‘You still lack the courage to admit what you obviously did.’
The judge went on to say how the ‘significant difference in ages was a serious feature’ when assessing whether to lock up Toomer.
‘You groomed her and encouraged her to go on walks with you and bought her cigarettes and jewellery and gave her money and also promised to give her a car,’ judge Mousley said.
‘You took serious advantage of a young person. The effect of this on her cannot be underestimated.’
He added: ‘Her insecurity in everyday life is all down to you and I can only hope she will come to terms with what you did.’
Judge Mousley then handed Toomer, of previous good character, a 15-month jail term suspended for two years, ordered him to pay £2,000 compensation to the victim, and complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation days.
Toomer, who was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and two charges of attempting to incite a child into sexual activity, was also given a sexual harm prevention order and restraining order for 10 years.
He was also put on the sex offenders register for five years and told he could not not work with young people.
The victim’s mum was left crying after the verdict. Outside court she told The News the sentence was ‘overly lenient’ and branded Toomer ‘weird’.
She added: ‘ My daughter won’t be great after hearing the result.’
Every day I feel low and get upset and my school grades have been affected. Victim’s statement to the court