Lee O’Brien, a 52-year-old former support worker from the Wrexham area, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a sexual assault that occurred approximately a decade ago. The incident took place at O’Brien’s former home, where he assaulted a male victim without consent, leading to severe psychological trauma for the victim.
The court heard that the victim had arrived at O’Brien’s home expecting to meet other people, but found himself alone with the defendant. As detailed by prosecutor John Wyn Williams at Mold Crown Court, the two sat on a sofa, and O’Brien attempted to kiss the victim, who pulled away. O’Brien then got on top of the victim, using his larger and stronger build to overpower him. He rubbed the victim intimately over his clothes before removing the victim’s trousers. The victim described feeling a burning sensation in his anus, possibly from a finger or an object, though he could not see what was used. O’Brien suddenly stopped and smiled, with no consent given at any point during the assault.
Years later, the victim’s recollection was triggered during work training, prompting him to report the incident to the police on 22 June 2023. When interviewed on 7 September 2023, O’Brien claimed the encounter was consensual and mutual, denying any sexual activity. However, O’Brien pleaded guilty to assault by penetration at the court hearing. His Honour Judge Rhys Rowlands imposed an extended sentence of nine years, with five and a half years to be served in custody, followed by three and a half years on licence to protect the public from the risk he poses. The judge noted O’Brien as a dangerous offender and highlighted the severe psychological impact on the victim, who became socially isolated, suffered nightmares, and required counselling.
In a victim personal statement read in court, the victim expressed the profound effect of the assault: “Before this incident I was living my best life. The world was my oyster.” He described feeling “dirty and disgusting” afterwards and lamented that O’Brien’s guilty plea had taken away his opportunity to testify in trial, stating, “You have taken away my voice by taking away ‘my’ trial.” Defending barrister Matthew Dunford acknowledged the guilty plea spared the victim cross-examination and noted that both parties had been drinking, though O’Brien had not plied the victim with alcohol as in previous cases. O’Brien expressed genuine remorse, but the court prioritised public protection given his history, including prior convictions for sex offences against another victim, for which he was already serving time in HMP Whatton, Nottinghamshire.
The case was heard at Mold Crown Court, with reporting from Wales Updates based on court proceedings. North Wales Police investigated the report, confirming the incident’s location in the Wrexham area of Wales.