Man who groped 'petrified' girl, 13, sentenced

A man who groped a "petrified" 13-year-old girl has been given a suspended jail term.

Connor Studholme was 30 when he stroked his victim's thigh as she tried to flee from a bedroom, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He denied sexual assault, but was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

The girl said her teenage years had been "ruined" by the assault and she had changed as a result of his actions.

Prosecutor Philip Morley said the assault happened in 2021 after Studholme, of Grasmere Avenue in Walker, Newcastle, had made numerous suggestive remarks to the girl who was visiting a friend.

The court heard they were alone in a bedroom when he asked how old she was and if she had lost her virginity and told her to stop ruffling her hair as it was "turning [him] on".

He also said if she had been 15 he would "maybe sleep with" the girl, Mr Morley added.

The girl was "uncomfortable and worried" and, as she was leaving the room, Studholme touched her, the prosecutor said.

In a statement read to the court, the girl said she had been "absolutely petrified" and feared she was going to be raped.

"I kept thinking if I don’t get out of here something really bad is going to happen to me," she said.

The assault had left her angry and anxious and she thought she was having a panic attack when she saw him in the street on a later occasion, adding she had become "quite a different person".

The girl said she had nightmares and did not like being around men as she feared what they might do, adding: "All of my teenage years have been ruined by what he did to me."

For the defence, Glenn Gatland said Studholme, now aged 32, still maintained his denials.

But Judge Sarah Mallett said Studholme's actions had had a "long-term emotional and psychological impact" on the girl.

"She was terrified you were going to rape her and petrified she was alone with you when no-one would be there to help her, " Judge Mallett said.

Studholme was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order banning him from unsupervised contact with and living with girls aged under 16.

An indefinite restraining order was issued banning him from contacting his victim and he must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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