Boater jailed for sexally assaulting 14 years old girl

A MAN living on a narrowboat moored at Long Itchington on the Grand Union Canal has been jailed for 20 months after grooming and sexually assaulting a girl he knew was only 14 after arranging to meet her ‘away from prying eyes’.

Paul Bishop pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to meeting a child following his grooming and sexually assaulting her, though he initially indicated he would deny the charges, Alan tilbury reports.

Register as sex offender

The 22 years old was jailed for 20 months and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, with Recorder Anthony Potter also imposing a restraining order banning him from contacting the girl for five years and a sexual harm prevention order restricting his contact with any child under 16 for ten years.

The 14 years old girl had received a Facebook ‘friend request’ from Bishop, and she accepted and they began to exchange messages, having told each other their correct ages. The court heard it quickly became ‘flirty’ and he suggested they meet up even though he knew she was under 16.

Sexually assaulted

The girl agreed, though on the first two occasions they met, they just chatted and parted with a hug, ‘but nothing sexual.’  It was at their third meeting that took place in a secluded field that Bishop attempted to kiss her then sexually assaulted the girl after she pushed him away.

She eventually confided in her grandmother about what had happened, that resulted in the police being informed, with officers seeing the messages that had passed between them including one of Bishop stating he wanted to have sex with her.

When arrested Bishop denied it all stating he did not know her age or messages about sex, as he must have been drunk at the time, but eventually admitted the offence.