A young teenage girl struck a Croft paedophile, David Jervis, in the groin when he attempted to sexually abuse her. David Jervis restrained his 15-year-old victim on his bed and attempted to compel her to lower her hands inside her trousers, but she valiantly resisted. The 63-year-old has been convicted for a second time of perpetrating an assault on a youngster.
Liverpool Crown Court was informed today, Thursday, that the individual invited the teenager to the stables where he housed his horses on multiple occasions in an attempt to “systematically groom” her. Olivia Beesley, the prosecutor, recounted how David Jervis subsequently proposed to provide her with cash during a visit to his residence, which she refused.
David Jervis then grabbed the teen by the thighs, lifted her up, carried her to a bedroom, threw her onto the bed and pinned her down. The convicted sex offender tried to put his hand down her trousers but she “bravely fought back”, managing to escape after kicking him between the legs.
Afterwards, David Jervis – of Birchall Street in Croft, Warrington – “carried on as if nothing had happened”. He gave her a birthday card and designer clothing at one point and sought to convince her to return to his address before she reported him to the police, at which point he denied having committed the attack and said she had never been to his home.
The complainant tearfully read out a statement to the court highlighting the devastating impact his actions had upon her, saying he had “exploited her for his sexual fantasy”. She added: “This has left a permanent psychological scar on my mind.
“It is something I’m coming to terms with. I believe this is something I will have to live with and work through for a long time.
“I was a 15-year-old child and could not have comprehended that anyone could be as manipulative as David Jervis has been. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
“I was worried if he was not found guilty he would be able to do the same to somebody else. Hopefully this will mean he can’t hurt anyone else.”
David Jervis has a total of 15 previous convictions for 47 offences, including being jailed for three years in 1998 for three counts of sexual assault against a teenage girl. Simeon Evans, defending, told the court that his client suffers from dementia – having claimed during his trial to have no member of the incident due to his condition – and “continues to assert his innocence”.
He was found guilty of sexual assault by a jury. David Jervis was jailed for five years and handed an additional three-year licence period.
Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: “You compelled her to have to come to court and give evidence, to relive the ordeal and be branded a liar. I am quite satisfied you were grooming her.
“It is difficult to know where you would have gone had she not resisted. You seem entirely undeterred by what you have done.
“She has clearly been severely affected and traumatised by the experience. That latent deviancy is still in you even now, as illustrated by this offence.
“I consider you are a manipulative person who sought to exploit his condition. I do conclude that you present as a dangerous offender.”
David Jervis was also handed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. He was given a restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim for eight years.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.