A MOTHER cried out with relief when the man accused of touching her 12-year-old daughter was found guilty at Chester Crown Court.
Paul Joseph Walker, 29, formerly of Flag Lane South, Upton, Chester, denied touching the girl after a New Year party at her Ellesmere Port home in the early hours of January 1.
During the trial, which started at Chester Crown Court last Wednesday, the court heard from members of the girl’s family as well as from close friends who had been sleeping at the house that night as well as watching the victim’s police interview, which was played to the court on Wednesday morning.
Walker, who lives separately from his girlfriend and two young children, had left his then heavily pregnant girlfriend in the main bedroom during the night and visited the room where the girl was sleeping on three separate occasions.
The first time he did this he was fully clothed and had a brief conversation with the girl and asked where certain people were in the house.
On the second occasion, he stood next to the bunk where she lay and interlocked his fingers with hers while she was half asleep.
During the third and final visit, he held her hand in the same way but then indecently touched the 12-year-old.
After screaming for her mum, Walker is said to have replied: “Your mum’s not here. Your mum’s downstairs.”
This was heard by a friend of the family who was sleeping in the bottom bunk.
After hearing evidence for two days, the jury of five men and seven women retired on Friday morning (August 20) and took just over two hours to return a guilty verdict.
Following the announcement, the girl’s mother was comforted by her family in the public gallery while Walker, who had remained calm throughout the trial, closed his eyes and shook his head.
Judge Stephen Clarke adjourned sentence to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Walker was granted bail until September 20, when he will appear before Judge Clarke at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing.
