Victim's 'disgust' over sex abuser's jail term
A DONCASTER woman says she feels let down by the justice system after the man who sexually abused her when she was a child was jailed for only 18 months.
The victim, who cannot be named, is now 30 but came forward to report Philip Simms after years of suffering in silence, because she feared he might carry out sex assaults on other children.
The hairdresser was at Doncaster Crown Court last week to see the 53-year-old sentenced but she left in tears because of her disappointment at the way the case was handled by prosecutors.
Simms, who has since moved to Filey from Balby, committed the offences around 20 years ago so the judge had to sentence him on the basis of laws which applied then, when the maximum was not as long as under current legislation.
After composing herself the woman told The Star she was "disgusted" with the jail term.
"He'll be out in nine months and the only thing I'm happy about is that he's on the Sex Offenders' Register so it should stop him doing it again. We weren't sure what he'd get but it was less than we expected."
She also expressed disappointment at the handling of the case by the Crown Prosecution Service before it came to sentencing.
"The police were great and I had an independent advocate helping me who was fine but I felt the CPS weren't with me. Simms denied some of the charges and it should not have gone to sentencing without me being consulted.
"I was always prepared to give evidence against him on the charges he denied because I knew he was guilty, otherwise I didn't feel I was getting closure for everything he did to me.
"If I hadn't turned up at court he might have got away with some things."
After the judge gave the prosecution more time, Simms was seen by his barrister who advised him the woman would give evidence against him, and he then admitted everything.
"Even now I don't feel as if I've got justice because of what he will serve. But at least I've confronted him. It was very traumatic but I didn't crack, it was him who cracked."
A spokesman for the CPS in South Yorkshire: "The defendant faced seven charges of a sexual nature against the same victim. On May 19 he pleaded guilty to five of the seven counts. We received a letter from the defence stating the defendant disputed certain facts of the charges and had pleaded guilty on that basis.
"The basis of plea was not acceptable to the prosecution and the defence were advised accordingly and told it was a matter for the judge.
"At court the judge stated she did not accept the basis of his plea. We consulted with the victim who confirmed she was prepared to give evidence. We, and the police, provided support to her at court to enable her to do this. We also informed the defence the victim was willing to give evidence.
"As a result the defendant accepted the victim's account and was sentenced on that basis. As he had now accepted her account of events it was no longer necessary for her to give evidence in court."
What do you think? Add your comment below.
BUY ONLINE: Buy The Star - Monday to Saturday - for local news, sport, features and ads. Sign up on line by clicking here.
READ MORE
Main news index
Your letters
Features
South Yorkshire's environmental news
Kids Zone
More business news
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Latest sport
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
