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A Goole factory worker broke down in tears as he was cleared of indecently assaulting two school girls - but was then told he could still be jailed.
George Webb (24) wept in the dock of Hull Crown Court watched by his family as the foreman of a jury cleared him of three charges of touching young girls more than eight years ago.
Mr Webb, of Bournville, fought a three-day trial insisting he had done nothing to the girls. It took a jury less than three hours to find him not guilty of three charges of indecent assault between December, 1998 and January 1, 2000.
However Judge Roger Thorn, QC, said Mr Webb, who admitted possession a string of sick images, still fell to be sentenced for those. He warned him: "You clearly must recognise that an immediate custodial sentence is inevitable. I am going to stand true to the verdicts of the jury and not sentence you to something you have not been convicted for. But you know the offences you have been convicted of cross the custody threshold."
The jury had been told the first case came to light in October, 2006 when one of the youngest of the girls was "sharing secrets" and said Mr Webb had touched her on more than one occasion.
A second, older girl then came forward and made a similar complaint saying he had "tried it on" with her, too. The girl's parents were told and the police informed and Mr Webb was interviewed and arrested.
His computer was seized and found to have pictures of schoolgirls.
Two of the pictures of naked girls had the title Mafia Sex Are You? There were also three movie clips with the titles Goth Russia, Good Position and Daughter and My Little Friend. In total there were 19 movies and 10 pictures. The worst of which showed a man in a leather mask with a child which had raised fears of sadism.
Crown barrister Suzanne Smales said the final image might not have shown a sadistic act but sentencing guidelines suggested the starting point for possession of such images was 26 weeks in prison. She said they were downloaded from the internet on two separate occasions.
Mr Webb denied he was interested in the pictures at all. His barrister Richard Thompson told the judge there was a small number of images and that he had no previous convictions.
Judge Thorn told Mr Webb to stand as he told him: "I think you are still in a state of denial about the matters you have committed. You have already been punished in the time delay brought in bringing this case. But I must remind you all sentencing options will be open."
He said he would adjourn sentence so that a probation report could be prepared on Mr Webb's background. He granted Mr Webb bail, allowing him to walk free from court. Mr Webb is due to be sentenced in around four weeks' time at Hull Crown Court.
Published on 21st February 2008 in News.
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