A Luton man said the devil was inside him when he repeatedly crept into a 16-year-old girl’s bedroom and touched her leg.
Felix Mathews, aged 38, moved his hand higher and higher up her leg each time until her reached her upper thigh. Each time he crawled on the floor to the girl, he said nothing to her, Luton Crown Court was told on Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Prosecutor Nicholas Wayne said: “Felix Mathews entered the bedroom on repeated occasions between 2am and 3am on September 18, 2020.
“She saw him at the end of the bed, peering over her.
“He left the room, got on the floor and crawled to her bed. She was only wearing a T-shirt.”
Mr Wayne went on: “He repeated the same process at least 10 times, getting higher and higher each time until he reached her upper thigh. Each time he said nothing. Eventually he closed the door and left the bedroom.”
When the victim told a relative, Mathews denied anything had happened, but later said: “I don’t know what came over me. The devil was inside me.”
Before the assault, Mathews had sent the girl messages complementing her on her physical appearance, said the prosecutor. In a victim personal statement the teenager, who cannot be named, said she had lost trust in men.
Mathews, of Brendon Avenue, Luton, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the teenager.
Defending, Alejandra Tascon said Mathews had no previous convictions and was struggling with his mental health. “He feels shame, embarrassment and remorse.
“He makes no excuse and is still trying to understand his behaviour.
“He has become suicidal and depressive,” she said.
Judge Lynn Tayton QC passed a 20 months jail sentence suspended for two years. He must attend 30 rehabilitation days, complete 250 hours’ unpaid work and take part in 12 mental health treatment sessions.
He must register as a sex offender and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
The judge warned him: “I don’t want to see you back. If you do come back you will go to prison.”
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