Shropshire babysitter jailed for sex assault on young girl
A Shropshire man who sexually assaulted a girl he was babysitting has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Judge Simon Tonking said there was "very clear scientific evidence" that Julian Tudor Owen, 50, had abused a young child he was looking after.
Owen, a married father, of Lower Down, Lydbury North, near Bishop's Castle, was found guilty of one count of sexually assaulting a child under 13 at Shrewsbury Crown Court on December 12. A second count was dropped.
He was back at Shrewsbury yesterday for sentencing.
Steven Bailey, defending, said Owen still denied the charges, and was "lucky to retain the support and love of those close to him".
He said self-employed businessman Owen was a man of previous good character who had carried out a "single completely aberrant offence" of "relative brevity".
But Judge Tonking said: "This was a very young child and you were in breach of the trust that her parents had put on you. Instead of looking after her you abused her.
"I accept that this was an aberration."
