A convicted paedophile has avoided an immediate jail term after being handed an 18-month suspended sentence.

Charles Joseph Cover, aged 66, of Christian Street, Peel, was found guilty of gross indecency and indecent assault of a minor, by a jury at the Court of General Gaol Delivery in February.

The family of the victim were visibly shocked as Cover walked free from court with a suspended sentence this week.

At his sentencing, the court was told that between May 2015 and July 2016, Cover assaulted a pre-teenage girl in a motorhome. She was aged between 11 and 12 at the time.

Prosecutor James Robinson read out a statement from the victim, who was not in court, which said Cover’s actions had left a terrible impact on her life.

She has suffered from anxiety and been kept awake at night thinking about what happened.

It had impacted on her school work and she had also been left feeling unable to do normal activities like having sleepovers at friends’ homes.

The victim’s mother said Cover was someone they trusted and that he had ’ruined my faith in people’.

She said Cover’s actions had been ’devastating’ for her and her family. ’You don’t think it will ever happen to your family,’ she added.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said his client had acted ’spontaneously’ after drinking heavily and that it was ’evident’ from his letter sent to the court that he continues to deny the offences ever happened.

health

He said since his client’s arrest in October 2018, Cover has stopped drinking and has been engaging with mental health services.

A social enquiry report recommended a suspended sentence to allow for one-to-one probation. It said custody would not stop him reoffending.

Deemster Kainth described the victim as a ’very brave young girl’. He told Cover: ’Children are our future, children should be able to enjoy their childhood.

’You have deprived her of having a wonderful, open childhood where she should be carefree of anything that goes on in the world.’

He added: ’You are a very stupid and foolish man.’

Deemster Kainth, who appeared via video link, handed Cover a 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months to allow for probation work.

Cover will also be subject to a 12-month supervision order, be placed on the sex offenders’ register and be subject to a sexual offences prevention order for seven years.

He must also pay the victim £1,000 in compensation.

This week's Isle of Man Examiner reports strong reaction to the sentencing.