A PENSIONER has been sent to jail after admitting to sexually assaulting two young girls.
David Mathias, aged 68, of Union Street, Leek, appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in Hanley on Thursday, March 14, charged with sexually assaulting two girls aged under 13.
Prosecutor Fiona Cortese told the court that on February 18 at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Mathias pleaded guilty to seven counts of inciting a child under the age of 13 in sexual activity, between 2003 and 2006.
Mathias was arrested and interviewed by police on November 9, 2011, and admitted the charges made against him.
The court was read victim statements which detailed the effects the sexual assaults had on the girls.
The court heard that the assault had changed one victim's personality, made her more nervous and uncomfortable around men, and has left her unable to get close to boys of her own age and needing counselling every fortnight.
She is unable to sleep and suffers flashbacks of the assaults, and when alone she often cries, and when she thinks about Mathias she feels physically sick.
Defending, Paul Cliff told the court that Mathias had been “remarkably frank” in his admissions, and had even admitted to further offences that police had previously been unaware of.
He said: “The guilt of his offending weighed heavily upon him for several years and he is ashamed of his behaviour and wanted to get this off his chest, which is why he told the officers of his further offending.
“He is 68 and has no previous convictions. There was no intimidation, coercion, or force, and no further offending beyond 2006.
“He was university educated and has worked his whole life, and appears to be well regarded by those who worked with him by evidence of references provided by his former employer.
“He divorced in the mid-80s and has been a homeowner for a long time, and lives on his pension.”
Sentencing Mathias to 32 months in prison Judge Paul Glenn said: “This was a regular occurrence and your victims have been seriously affected by what you did. One describes you ruining her life, having nightmares and having to undergo counselling.
“You touched one victim and asked her to touch you, saying it was her turn.
“It is to your credit that you made admissions while interviewed and I’m impressed that you volunteered information.
“You claimed to not have had any sexual gratification, but there could not have been any other motive.
“You have expressed shame, regret and remorse. You are in intelligent man with a good work record. There was no intimidation or coercion, but there was repeated conduct with two victims.
"They were vulnerable and wouldn’t have been aware at that time of the gravity of what you were doing.”
Mathias has also been disqualified from working with children and will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.
