Cwmbran man, 35, sentenced for sex assault on teen girl

Robert Knight, 35, formerly of Millhouse Crescent, Coed Eva, previously admitted he indecently touched the girl in 2009.

Sarah Waters, prosecuting, said police were called in, an investigation was carried out and DNA tests found Knight’s saliva on the girl’s chest.

Newport Crown Court heard Knight denied the incident happened during police interview and could not explain how his saliva got there.

He continued to deny the charge until he pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to start on April 6, the court heard.

Ms Waters said Knight was previously given a three-and-a-half year prison sentence after being convicted of attempted rape in 2001.

Andrew Davies, representing Knight, said the girl involved in this incident previously made false allegations of sexual assault against another man.

Judge Eleri Rees raised concerns about Knight’s previous offending and described him as a man who took advantage of a young woman, giving into his desires and impulses without any thought.

She sentenced him to a three-year community order and ordered him to take part in an intensive sex offenders' rehabilitation programme. He is already on the Sex Offenders Register for life, following his previous conviction.

Knight was also ordered him to £2,500 prosecution costs.

'Our lives have been on hold' - victim's mother

Knight’s victim’s mother said her daughter has not been out alone in Cwmbran since the incident and the attack had shattered her confidence.

She said: “It’s been awful for the past year for all the family. It’s been really hard for all of us. He kept it going right up to when the jury was going to be sworn in.

“Our lives have been on hold for a year really. It’s put paid to her going out in Cwmbran. I have a younger daughter as well and she won’t go out in Cwmbran either.

“I’m really glad he’s pleaded guilty. I just wish instead of putting us through this as a family he could have stopped it all on the evening that it happened.”