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Man convicted of sex assaults
A 30-YEAR-OLD man is facing a jail sentence after repeatedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.
Thomas Thirlwell, 30, was convicted last Thursday of four sex charges relating to the girl.
He had denied all four charges - three of indecent assault and one of gross indecency with a child under 16.
The jury of six men and six women spent about four and a half hours over two days deliberating before delivering its verdicts.
After the verdicts were announced, Judge Peter Thompson agreed to a request from defence barrister Samantha Leigh for a report from the probation service and character references before sentencing Thiriweil.
The judge bailed Thirlwell, of Stour Vale, Stoke Road, Glare, to the sentencing date of March 26, requiring him to sign the sex offenders' register in the meantime.
Judge Thompson told Thirlweil: "I must warn you it is highly likely you will receive a custodial sentence - these are serious offences."
During the trial, which began the previous Monday, the court heard Thirlwell repeatedly touched the girl's private parts under her knickers and removed her upper clothing.
Evidence included a love letter said to have been written to the girl by the defendant. Thirlweil denied he was the author of the letter.
Date : 05-03-2004
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