‘Heartbreaking’ – mother tells of anguish after Leeds man sexually assaulted her nine-year-old daughter

The girl was a victim of Matteo Pazienza, a 51-year-old Leeds man who kissed her, touched her over her clothes and held her against the front of his body.

The mum, who cannot be named in order to protect her daughter's identity, read an emotional statement to the court, detailing how his actions last year had impacted on the little girl and her family.

During a sentencing hearing at Leeds Crown Court, she told a judge: “On the day she first told me about what Matteo had been doing to her, she was very upset. She cried and needed reassurance and lots of cuddles.

“My husband and I were in shock and were both devastated and angry. Having to give a statement to the police about what had happened to my innocent daughter was heartbreaking and we knew that our lives were now changed forever.

”We try to be strong for her and reassure her that everything will be OK but we struggled to process what had happened and had trouble accepting it.”

The statement added that the girl now struggles at school, and often feels nervous and upset.

"We tell her often that she is loved and that she never did anything wrong,” her mum said. “As parents, we also have been struggling with feelings of guilt, as we worry that we have not protected her enough and let her down.

"This situation will never go away for our family. As our daughter gets older, she will start to ask more questions about the motive behind the assaults and what the offender was trying to do.

"This incident will definitely impact her future relationships with others for the rest of her life, we just don’t know yet how much.

"As a family we are devastated and will be dealing with the impact of these assaults forever. A constant drain on emotional energy, thinking how we can answer her questions whilst providing support.”

Pazienza, of Moor Allerton Avenue, was found guilty at trial of assault by touching on a girl under 13.

Mitigating, Stuart Neale told the court that almost all of the touching occurred over clothes, and that many people had written positive character references for Pazienza.

He added: “These allegations have brought about the end of his marriage and loss of his home. He finds himself aged 51, facing a sentence of imprisonment.

"The shock and distress of courtroom proceedings is likely to act as aversion therapy.”

Sentencing Pazienza, Recorder Edward Ledgard said: “Your story that you were a naturally tactile person and that any touching was innocent was understandably rejected by the jury in the face of compelling CCTV evidence.

"What you did was unconscionable. You took advantage of a nine-year-old girl.

“Remorse is conspicuous by its absence.”

Sentencing him to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, he said: "I have decided, with considerable caution, to suspend the sentence in your case. Society will be better served with unpaid work in this case.”

Pazienza must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years. He was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order.