January 2015
Gloucester man who sexually assaulted young girl handed six-and-a-half-year sentence
A 46-YEAR-OLD man who sexually assaulted a young girl, but has as yet been unable to admit he has done anything wrong, has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.
Timothy Vitale, of Southgate Street, Gloucester, had pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the young girl four times in 2013 but was convicted by a jury after a trial in November.
He returned to Gloucester Crown Court for sentence yesterday and Judge Jamie Tabor QC was told that he still does not accept his guilt despite the jury’s verdicts.
“You are unable at this stage to admit that you did anything wrong,” the judge told Vitale.
“That does not entirely surprise me. When you do admit that you have done something wrong you will have to admit to the wider world that you have done something wholly unacceptable not once but at least four times.
“It may be some time before you acknowledge that.”
The judge said he took into account that Vitale had never been in trouble with the law before.
He said the girl had made “an outstanding witness” during the trial.
Anna Midgely, for Vitale, argued that the judge did not need to impose a sexual offence prevention order on Vitale because he did not represent any threat to children in general.
His offences had been limited to one girl on only a few occasion when he had been drinking, she said.
“I submit there is no necessity for an order,” she said. “I also ask the court to bear in mind that because of his depression and an anxiety disorder the prison sentence he must serve will have a greater impact on him than it might on someone who does not have such difficulties.
“He has reached a fair age with no previous involvement in the criminal justice system. He is a working man.”
As well as the six and a half year jail term, Judge Tabor ordered Vitale to sign the sex offender register for life.
