'Disgusting' Leeds pervert who touched teen girl in his car spared immediate custody
A pervert who groped a young girl in his car and made lewd suggestions about her underwear has avoided being locked up.
The judge at Leeds Crown Court described Derek Phelan’s actions as “disgusting”, before handing him a suspended sentence, saying he needed the help that he would not get behind bars.
The court heard that the 60-year-old had been driving with the 14-year-old girl in the passenger seat on August 30 last year.
When the youngster, who cannot be named, got into the car he commented about her not wearing a bra as he touched her back.
While driving, he told her to put her feet on the dashboard so he could tickle her, which she did.
He then moved his hand to her bottom and told her: “You have a lovely-shaped bum.”
Phelan then brushed his hand against her vagina, asking if she was wearing a g-string.
The pervert then asked if he could touch her breasts, she said no, but her persisted and put his hand down her top, making comments about the size of her breasts.
He asked to touch them a short time later, put his hand on her and pulled down her top, prosecutor Philip Standfast said.
Phelan told her her not to tell her friend, but she did and it later led to the police being called.
He was interviewed by police weeks later and made no comments about the incident. A prohibited image was also located on his phone.
Phelan, of Beevers Court, Lawnswood, admitted engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a child. He has no previous convictions.
Mitigating, Emily Hassell said despite his refusal to answer police questions, he entered guilty pleas at an early stage.
She said: “He is truly remorseful and his behaviour in the aftermath demonstrates his true remorse.”
She said he has lost friends and family due to his actions, and had lost a lot of weight.
She added: “He knows he only has himself to blame. It’s been difficult to understand as to what led him to commit this offence.”
The judge, Recorder Catherine Silverton told Phelan his actions were “frankly disgusting” but accepted his remorse.
She gave him a two-year sentence, suspended for two years - the maximum sentence that is suspendible.
She told him: “It’s very serious offending and you could make no complaint if I sent you through that door behind you and into custody today.”
She gave him 25 rehabilitation days to complete, and a nine-month curfew order to adhere to.
He was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, was put on the sex offender register for 10 years, and given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.