May 2000
Drugs lure led boys into sex assaults
A BEDWORTH man was jailed for 12 months yesterday for indecently assaulting boys and supplying them with cannabis.
David Beardsley, aged 26, of Downing Crescent, Bedworth, had pleaded not guilty at Coventry Crown Court to six charges of indecent assault and four of supplying the drug between January, 1997, and December, 1999.
He was found guilty of three charges of indecent assault and three charges of supplying cannabis.
The jury failed to reach a verdict on three indecent assault charges and Judge Christopher Hodson ordered that they should lie on the file.
Beardsley was found not guilty of one charge of supplying cannabis.
He had pleaded guilty to allowing his premises to be used for the consumption of cannabis.
Adrian Keelang, prosecuting, told the court Beardsley used cannabis to lure the boys to his bedroom.
The defendant was known to his victims, five boys now aged between 12 and 20, by his nickname of Bookworm.
One 12-year-old boy, who gave evidence via a video link, described how he and a friend went to Beardsley’s house one Sunday last year.
He said Beardsley tried to indecently assault him, and when he realised what was happening he slapped Beardsley’s hand, stubbed a cigarette out on his wrist and let himself out of the bedroom, which was bolted on the inside.The court was shown a video of another 12-year-old being interviewed by police about the allegations.
The boy explained how his 19-year-old babysitter had gone to Beardsley’s house late at night for drugs and had taken him along.
He said the babysitter left him alone with Beardsley, who indecently assaulted him.
Beardsley said: “I am not a pervert. I do not supply children with drugs and try it on with them.”
The judge told Beardsley, who has previous convictions for the supply and possession of class B drugs, that he would be registered as a sex offender and would have to report to police for 10 years.
In mitigation, John Price, defending, told the court that Beardsley was known in the area as a very helpful and very friendly young man.
He said no lasting harm had come to the boys and he had no previous convictions for indecent assault.
