Hartlepool sex attacker recorded himself abusing victim while she slept

Michael Aird, 52, was given four and a half years’ prison after he admitted three offences at Teesside Crown Court.

The court heard that the victim, who cannot be identified, was ‘deeply asleep' when Aird, 52, sexually assaulted her.

She has been left deeply affected by the crimes including to her health due to the stress.

Aird pleaded guilty to one count of assault by penetration, and two of sexual assault which included non-consensual sexual touching.

The victim was horrified when she later found images of the abuse on a tablet computer.

Sentencing Aird, Judge Howard Crowson said: “She was deeply asleep as you sexually abused her on three occasions, which spanned a period of more than two hours.

"That you recorded your abuse of her adds to her degradation.”

Judge Crowson added it was clear the victim was unaware of what was happening to her and Aird knew that.

He said her vulnerability by being asleep added to the seriousness of the offending.

Katy Rafter, defending, said in mitigation that Aird had been a hard working man for over 20 years, was of previous good character and provided numerous character references.

Ms Rafter said: "In short he has lost everything. The defendant is genuinely remorseful for the mistake he made that night.

"While he doesn’t seek to excuse his behaviour he didn’t realise the criminality of his actions that night or just how seriously, rightly, the court treats this type of offending.”

She added Aird, of Montague Street, Hartlepool, has also struggled with alcoholism and mental health problems.

He was made the subject of an indefinite restraining order against the victim and must notify police of his address for the rest of his life.

His mobile phone was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.

Judge Crowson reduced the length of the sentence from five years by six months to reflect the impact he said Covid-19 is having on prisoners.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Hartlepool Mail website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here.

Thank you.