An Isle of Wight man who tried to get a 6-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity has been sent to prison for 39 months – on his birthday.
Liam Hibberd, 35, of Carlton Place in Ryde, appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court earlier today (Thursday) having previously admitted a single charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The offence took place in the Ryde area between 1st January 2017 and 1st October 2018.
The court heard how Hibberd took a girl, aged just 6-years-old, upstairs and into a bedroom where he suggested they play a game.
Hibberd – who had told the child to close their eyes – proceeded to attempt to get them to touch his genitals. Luckily the child, despite their young age, opened their eyes and moved their hand away.
A victim impact statement said the child was ‘disgusted by Hibberd’ and what he had done to her. She went to say that his actions left her having constant nightmares and that she could ‘never forgive him’ for what he had done to her.
Prosecutor Tim Devlin, told the court that Hibberd had changed his plea on the 2nd day of Crown Court trial, after the victim and her mother had given evidence.
Defending Hibberd, Jim Osborne, told the court that his client decided he ‘couldn’t put the child through anymore’ when he decided to change his plea saying he was ‘too cowardly’ to admit to the offence earlier.
Recorder Bromige, told Hibberd – who has 4 convictions on his record – that he only changed his plea once his ‘conscience had caught up with him’ but that it was ‘very rare for a sexual abuser to admit their guilt’.
Hibberd was handed a 39-month prison sentence and made subject to a 15-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and indefinite restraining order.
As a result of his conviction, Hibberd has been made subject to indefinite police notification requirements.
The victim’s bravery, both during the trial and by attending today, was praised by Recorder Bromige.
I have a spare pumpkin which could be inserted where the sun doesn’t shine…
One more nonce banged up, HAPPY DAYS ,
Yeh but the do gooders will have him out in half
The island is turning into a nonce playground because the judges are to light on these offenders lock them up and throw away the key
Year and a half inside, but that girl will probably have mental health issues for life. Disgusting man. We need to introduce castration…
What an absolutely disgusting thing, he will be out in no time to do it again. Let the family into a room with him? What is actually wrong with people? Hopefully his time in prison will be absolutely hell???
Hopefully worse than hell. He only admitted it when he knew there was no denying it. They are all the same. Trying to make the child a liar causing her further trauma on top of giving her nightmares and ptsd forever, is totally unforgivable.
I hope he makes lots of “freinds” in prison. It will be the only punishment he ever gets.
Pathetic sentence as per usual..
Absolutely, especially when Lucy Connolly recieved 30 months for a single tweet.
She should have got more
He got a bargain didn’t he.
That 6 year old girl got no respect whatsover from the judge.
Brave? What else was she expected to be? Poor little innocent child.
Her abuser soiled her mind forever.
39 months is an insult to any abuse victim.
What the hell have these paedophiles got to do to children not far from toddlers age to get punished?
The judge should be investigated.
His computer checked for child abuse images. He obviously condones this never ending sexual abuse forgiveness.
This Island is alive with paedophiles, ever getting away with ruining children’s lives.
What a horrible place for a child to live.
I feel sick to my stomach.
Its not the judge its sentacing gidelines he plead gilty so he get 2/3 of for that this id his first crime of this type so he will be on the lower end of the sentace that the judge can give whitch i think is up to 5 years for this crime so 39 months i think would have been the maxim sentance he would have got by any judge