Court rejects State’s bid to jail man who sexually assaulted Cork girl, 14, he met on Snapchat

Counsel for the young man told the court the offending has had a “very, very severe impact” on his life

An application by the State to jail a man who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl after befriending her over Snapchat was rejected today by the Court of Appeal. File photo

An application by the State to jail a man who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl after befriending her over Snapchat was rejected today by the Court of Appeal.

The man, who is now 22 and cannot be identified for legal reasons, had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the girl, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amended) Act 1990, at a hearing at the District Court, Midleton, Co. Cork, in December 2020.