Darrell Mercer

Darrell Mercer, a 28-year-old man from Prestatyn in Denbighshire, has been jailed for four years after being convicted of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence against a 10-year-old girl. The incident occurred in April 2013 when Mercer unlawfully entered the girl's home and approached her bedroom while she lay asleep in bed.

The girl woke to find Mercer crouched above her, smelling of alcohol, and he grabbed her wrist and neck. She screamed, alerting her mother who was downstairs and heard the front door being pushed open. The mother rushed upstairs and confronted Mercer on the landing, where he provided a false name and claimed he believed it was his own house before fleeing the scene. Police were immediately called, and Mercer was traced after leaving behind a red and grey jacket and a mobile phone at the property.

Mercer admitted to assaulting the girl by grabbing her but was convicted at Mold Crown Court of the more serious charge of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence. Sentencing took place at Swansea Crown Court, with Mercer appearing via live television link from Mold. Judge Paul Thomas QC described the offence as 'brazen', stating: 'You went to this young girl's bedroom in order to sexually assault her.' He highlighted the profound impact on the victim, noting: 'The effect of what you did to this young girl was profound. She no longer feels safe in her own home, she wants to move out, and has nightmares on a frequent basis. At the age of 10 she feels the need to carry an alarm with her everywhere. You have turned her young life upside down. I can only hope that time will change that situation.'

The judge also referenced Mercer's prior conviction for indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl in 2002, observing similar elements in both cases. In addition to the four-year custodial sentence, Mercer was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order. Judge Thomas warned him that any future sexual offence would result in 'an extremely long sentence indeed.' The case was reported by BBC News on 12 September 2013, following earlier coverage of the trial.