Youth football coach Jason Neill sexually assaulted girl

A YOUTH football coach convicted of improperly touching a 13-year-old girl has been handed a suspended jail term.

Father-of-two Jason Neill started by touching the youngster's hand before taking advantage of his victim, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Neill, 39, of Four Acre Avenue, Bromley Heath, Downend, denied wrongdoing but a jury convicted him of four charges of sexual assault on a female.

Judge Mark Horton imposed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

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Neill was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years and was banned from working with children or vulnerable people.

The judge told him: "It is quite plain that this behaviour, from the start, sent this girl into turmoil. She was extremely confused."

The girl's father, who attended court for the sentence, said: "He (Neill) has allowed a 13-year-old girl to be cross-examined for a number of hours, without showing any remorse."

Detective Constable Carol Doxsey, the police officer in charge of the case, said: "Mr Neill was not remorseful.

"The victim has been particularly traumatised about what happened as well as the court process, as have her family."

Jason Taylor, prosecuting, told the judge Neill was of previous good character and urged he should now be disqualified from working with children.

Judge Horton said the disqualification was automatic.

The judge said: "This case reveals planning and it also includes abuse of a position of trust."

Ray Tully, defending, said: "This is man approaching 40, of previous good character and an exemplary family life.

"He has given a huge amount back to the community.

"He is someone who revels in the delights of his own family, a defendant with a very loving wife and two loving children at a very delicate stage of their development."

Mr Tully said his client had run a football team but the conviction – which was not said to be related to the coaching role – would "knock for six" important aspects of his life.

He told the court: "This is a serious case but a balance can be struck by a non-immediate custodial sentence."