A pensioner who whispered and giggled while sexually assaulting a young girl has been jailed. Filomeno Chapim groped the child from behind in an attack which left her upset.
Following the incident, members of the victim's family went to confront Chapim and he was recorded as he first denied and then admitted what he had done. He asked for forgiveness but police were called and he was arrested.
Police interview and victim impact
When interviewed by police, he attributed his actions to his divorce and diabetes and made several references to Christianity, God and the bible.
In a victim impact statement, the girl described what happened to her as "unfair and disgusting" and described a loss of appetite and having suicidal thoughts. She added that she was scared it might happen again.
Sentencing and defence
Chapim, 72, of Shieldfield House, Newcastle, admitted sexual assault of a child under 13 and was jailed for 30 months. Recorder Richard Wright KC said he had shown "elements of remorse" but they were "in part bound up in your belief you had broken your religious code rather than being based on any real insight or understanding of the harm you have caused".
John Wilkinson, defending, said Chapim was "wracked with guilt" and "can't explain why this happened" and said it was "very much out of character".
