A convicted paedophile sexually assaulted an intoxicated teenager after following her around until she was rescued by a woman who took her to the toilets to find refuge. David Evans, 45, had been drinking in the Waterguard pub in Cardiff Bay in January this year with another man when he began hanging around a 19-year-old woman who was alone and had been drinking heavily.
Assault details revealed in court
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard Evans and his drinking companion offered to walk the girl back to the Premier Inn where she was staying. The court heard Evans said the girl looked considerably younger than her age and he was paying her unwanted attention while getting too close to her physically.
Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said the defendant was "handsy" and the victim was "particularly vulnerable" due to her intoxicated state. The group attended The Packet pub in Bute Street but were not served and Evans could be seen on CCTV helping the victim to walk. He could be seen touching her arms, her chest, and her bottom and trying to kiss her forcefully on the mouth but the victim turned her head away from him.
Brave intervention ends assault
The group then went to Tesco Express to buy vodka but Evans and the victim remained outside the shop. He then put his hands under her top and felt her breasts before placing his hand beneath the waistband of her skirt to touch her bottom before putting his hand underneath her skirt to touch her inner thighs. The defendant even grabbed hold of one of the victim's hands and attempted to put it down the front of his trousers but she resisted.
The sexual assault came to an end when a woman walking by approached the victim and used "coded language" by asking the victim if she wanted to use the toilet. The woman took the victim to the public toilets near the Everyman Theatre but Evans and the second man waited outside. Eventually they left after the woman told them that the victim did not want their help and she took her back to the Premier Inn.
Conviction and sentence
The defendant was later identified on CCTV by his offender manager and he was arrested. Evans, of Taff Embankment, Cardiff, later pleaded guilty to sexual assault. The court heard the defendant has eight previous convictions for possessing indecent images and breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).
In mitigation Hilary Roberts said his client had worked with his offender manager despite finding the conditions of the SHPO difficult. The defendant was also said to have had a difficult upbringing having spent time in the care system and he has been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Hobson said: "I have no doubt you intended to take advantage of [the victim] sexually... I have no doubt you would have taken things further if you had the opportunity were it not for the brave intervention." The judge said the defendant exhibited "sexually predatory conduct" and had a "longstanding sexual interest in children". Evans was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment and remains subject to a SHPO for an indefinite period.
