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More on KentOnline
A pervert who groped a teenage girl after luring her into the back of his lorry has walked free from court.
David Jefferys had taken the girl to his truck in Halling, Rochester, on the pretext of having a "quiet cigarette" - but he then made sexual suggestions and touched her breasts.
The 44-year-old, of Hanes Dean, Halling, denied sexual assault, but was convicted by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court.
He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment - suspended for two years with supervision - and ordered to do 180 hours' unpaid work and complete a sex offender programme.
While molesting the victim, Jefferys - a committee member of a local social club - rubbed his hand along the waistband of her leggings.
Concerned relatives and others were calling her name to try to find the girl while it was happening at the end of December 2011.
"She was petrified as to what you might do to her," said Judge Philip Statman when he passed sentence. "You made her promise not to speak as to what happened as a condition of leaving the back of the lorry."
"She was petrified as to what you might do to her. You made her promise not to speak as to what happened as a condition of leaving the back of the lorry..." - Judge Philip Statman
By contesting the case, Jefferys had made his victim relive her ordeal in the witness box.
"Her victim impact statement indicates she blames herself for putting herself in the position that evening, but you were the adult and you were old enough to be her father," said the judge.
"What you did had profound consequences on her and members of her family. Her trust of adults, in particular males, has suffered. She has difficulty in forming relationships and trusting people even of her own age.
"All these matters stem from that which you did to her. I profoundly disagree that I should be looking solely at punishment at community level.
"This was an ugly offence which all right-thinking members of the public would expect to be dealt with by custody uppermost in the mind of the judge.
"You have shown no remorse and little understanding of what you have done to your victim."
Jefferys was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order. His name will be on the sex offenders' register for five years and he will be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.
