Michael Binder

Michael Binder, a 44-year-old businessman from Shoeburyness, Essex, was convicted at Basildon Crown Court of sexually assaulting a teenage girl during the school summer holidays at his family's shop, Pauls Discount, located on Southchurch Road in Southend-on-Sea.

The incident occurred when Binder took the girl into an upstairs stock room and suggested playing a 'game' involving memorising school colours and logos. When she complained of back pain, Binder, claiming to be a former masseuse, grabbed her lower back, pulled her towards him, and pressed his private area against her bottom. The girl's mother testified that her daughter returned home distraught and immediately recounted the assault. The following morning, the mother confronted Binder at the shop, but he denied the allegations under oath during the trial.

The jury deliberated for over eight hours before finding Binder guilty by a majority verdict of ten to two on the sexual assault charge. Following the verdict, Judge Peter Clark revealed that Binder had already pleaded guilty to additional child sex offences: two counts of possessing indecent images of a child and two counts of sexual activity with a child, involving two other teenagers. This information had been withheld from the jury to avoid prejudicing the trial. The disclosure prompted an emotional reaction from one female juror, who burst into tears.

Defence barrister Michael McAlinden had questioned the 14-year delay in reporting the assault, suggesting the story was fabricated. However, it emerged that police, already investigating Binder for the other offences, had approached the mother and daughter, rather than the report being initiated by them. During deliberations, the jury inquired about other allegations against Binder, but were instructed to base their decision solely on the evidence presented.

Judge Clark commended the jury's impartiality, stating, 'You were asking whether there were any other allegations against Mr Binder. There are. Indeed, more than allegations, there are sexual offences to which Mr Binder has pleaded guilty and awaits sentence. I thought it was better that you reach a decision without information that might have been thought to prejudice your thinking. In fact, by your verdict, you have shown that it is perfectly possible for you to reach the correct verdict without that potentially prejudicial information.' The reporting restriction was lifted by the judge on the evening of 18 February, allowing full details to be published.

No sentencing date was set at the time of the conviction, with Binder awaiting sentencing for all offences at Basildon Crown Court.