Man jailed after jury finds him guilty of sex offences

'INNOCENT YOUNG GIRL SUFFERED NIGHTMARES

- By MARK NAYLOR

David Austin, 58, was convicted by a jury after a trial

A PREDATORY sex offender who intimately touched a young girl - causing serious psychological harm to her - later tried to talk his way out of trouble because he did not want to be “labelled as a paedophile”.

David Austin claimed to be “very shocked” when he was arrested by the police and he told a court: “I can’t understand why I am standing here now.”

He claimed that he merely “tickled” the girl in a bid to cheer her up, Hull Crown Court heard.

Austin, 58, denied four offences of sexual assault against a girl on July 13, 2023, in the Market Weighton area, but he was convicted by a jury after a trial.

Benjamin Donnell, prosecuting, said that Austin intimately touched the girl and that there was no possibility of it being an accident.

Austin claimed, however, that he merely tickled her and did not sexually touch her.