Man cleared of abuse tried to pervert justice

AN INSURANCE worker cleared of sexual abuse was handed a community order for trying to stop the case against him.

Robert Davey was acquitted of 12 charges of abusing a female, following a trial.

But a jury found the 51-year-old, of Queenshill Road, Knowle Park, guilty of committing an act tending towards perverting the course of public justice.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC handed him a 12-month community order and told him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

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He warned him he faced prison if failed to abide by the conditions of the order.

Judge Mercer described how Davey was charged with multiple sexual assaults on a female, and used another person to speak to the complainant and enquire what it would take to drop the charges, and the offer of financial incentives.

Judge Mercer said: "This is a serious matter, extremely unattractive. No action was taken and the police were informed of what you had done. It deserves prison."

The judge conceded, however, that Davey was a man without a criminal record, in good work and working hard.

He also recognised prison would mean Davey losing his employment.

Edward Burgess, defending, had urged the judge to follow the recommendation of a probation officer, in a pre-sentence report, and give Davey a non-custodial sentence.