WOMAN IS JAILED FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING GIRL, 13
attacks ‘contributed’ to teenager trying to take her own life, court told
A WOMAN who sexually abused a 13-year-old girl has been jailed.
Martine Brayshaw was 22 when she started to befriend the ‘vulnerable’ teenager, who had a torrid home life, a court heard.
What began as a friendship soon turned into sexual abuse over a two month period, though, and was only uncovered when the schoolgirl, who cannot be named, was confronted by her mother.
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard the girl’s relationship with Brayshaw ‘contributed’ to the youngster trying to take her own life. After being treated in hospital, she told police of the abuse.
Later, Brayshaw of Coldhurst, Oldham, turned up at the girl’s home, threw a burning rag at the property and screamed abuse at the girl and her mother, threatening to ‘get people round.’
Brayshaw, now 24, was jailed for 30 months after she was convicted of seven charges of sexual activity with a child and two offences of witness intimidation.
She was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will have to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years. She was also banned from contacting the victim for five years under the terms of a restraining order.
Andrew Macintosh, prosecuting, said: “The girl was befriended by this defendant while she was going through a difficult time with her mother. That friendship became sexual. The complainant was challenged by her mother about what had occurred that resulted in an argument. As a result the complainant tried to commit suicide and was taken to hospital where she was detained for a brief period before being discharged.
“At that time she denied to her mother that there was any relationship between the two but she subsequently stated to the police there had been some kissing. She then admitted that matters had gone much further. Following that disclosure she was interviewed and disclosed to officers what the nature of the relationship was.”
Mr Macintosh said that, a few months later, Brayshaw went on a rampage at the girl’s home.
He said: “This lady is seen outside of the complainant’s house on police bail – she was seen outside the house to throw a burning rag onto the fence. When the complainant and her mother came out of the property she was abusive towards them before making off. She denied in interview anything of a sexual nature had happened and denied she had been the person seen to throw the rag onto the fence, these are denials she maintained throughout the trial.”
Craig MacGregor, defending, said his client was on the autistic spectrum and added: “Martine has been beat up, she had left her job of two years, she had also been attacked on the street and kicked in the face – but no further action was taken because it wasn’t in the interests of justice.
“Martine has felt aggrieved that no one was listening to her side. She presents with complex developmental disorder, a lack of awareness, a lack of understanding, misinterpretation of other people’s intentions.’’
But sentencing, Judge Mark Savill told Brayshaw she was aware the girl was a child ‘with difficulties perhaps a bit more than just teenage anger with a parent.’
He said: “I don’t take the view that there was grooming behaviour. To some extent there was in this relationship you found yourself in, you being an adult she being a child looking to find a friend in the storm of her teenage years. ‘However you had your difficulties. It seems to me you are not somebody who was engaging in grooming behaviour, you didn’t specifically target this individual. Although there is a 10-year or so gap in your ages understanding and maturity is significantly reduced.
“The harm in this case is ongoing, effects on the victim have been severe. You are not solely responsible for the attempt on her own life but no doubt contributed to that.”
I don’t take the view there was grooming behaviour
Judge Mark Savill