Nov 2006

Woman guilty of sex offences against girls

A Caldicot woman committed sexual offences against two teenage girls in her home, a court heard.

At Cardiff crown court yesterday Hannah Harris, twenty, was described as “dysfunctional and with a damaged personality.”

Harris, of Herbert Road, a woman with no previous convictions admitted three charges of inciting children to engage in sexual activity.

She was sentenced to 12 months in a young offender institution, suspended for two years and made subject to a supervision order for two years.

The sexual offences prevention order was also imposed banning her from having children aged 10 to 16, unless accompanied by a parent, in her home.

She was also banned from working with children and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years.

Judge Christopher Vosper told her: “You encouraged children to drink alcohol and become intoxicated and on three occasions you committed sexual offences against them.”

He added: “It is plain that appalling things happened to you as a child and your upbringing was not easy.”

If he sent her to prison, he said, the consequences would be disastrous.

Prosecutor Claire Wilks said the teenage girls would go to Harris’s home, smoke, and drink alcohol.

On one occasion one of the girls found a sex toy and the defendant allowed her to use it on her.

Later the same sex toy was used on the defendant again. Part of the incident was filmed on a mobile phone.

The defendant, she said, did something of an indecent nature to the second girl.

“She realised it was wrong and apologised,” Ms Wilks said.

After being arrested, Harris said the incidents occurred after heavy drinking.

Miss Wilks said both girls were now unable to sleep properly, and one took anti-depressants.

Harris’s counsel Martin Lanchester said: “There was no ulterior motive or pre-meditation.