“Why did he get to live in the Philippines?”Hassall denied sexual assault, but was convicted by a jury after trial and jailed for 28 months

A depraved builder who fled the UK for the Far East after sexually assaulting a girl has been jailed.

Wayne Hassall, 59, spent years in the Philippines, but was arrested at Manchester Airport on his return to the country in August this year, a court heard.

A judge said at a sentencing hearing she was satisfied Hassall ‘left the country to avoid prosecution for this offence’.

His conviction relates to incidents that occurred in 2021. Hassall’s victim, a girl who can’t be identified for legal reasons, told police he sexually assaulted her on his farm in Utkinton, Tarporley, Cheshire.

Chester Crown Court heard she was about to feed horses there when he suddenly kissed her and told her that he loved her. He went on to sexually assault her before she confided in her mother.

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The court heard that while under investigation, Hassall flew to the Far East. A warrant for his arrest was issued in 2022 and Hassall was held by police at Manchester Airport in August this year when he returned to the UK.

Hassall, of Cherry Tree Farm, Quarry Bank, Utkinton, denied sexual assault, but was convicted by a jury after trial and jailed for 28 months on Monday (November 10).

The victim bravely relived her ordeal in a statement considered by the court.

“I was angry at myself for letting it happen and I became angry at the world,” she said. “I never used to be an angry person but it was all taken out of my control. I had chances to stop it happening and I did not – I will never forgive myself for that.

“I am numb and emotionally cold and I have felt that I don’t deserve to be happy. I feel as if I have let everyone down. This has ruined me as a person. My innocence was taken away and because of that, I ask the question ‘why me? Was it something I did? Why did he get to live in the Philippines?”

The girl’s mother added in a statement: ”I hated what he did to her. He took away a huge chunk of her childhood when he abused her. He is a vile paedophile and a dangerous man.

Jailed: Wayne Hassall (Image: Cheshire Police/CavendishPress)

Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, said Hassall talked about giving the girl money.

The court heard he also tried to apologise to her.

Richard Thomas. mitigating, said: “He has continued to deny that he behaved in any way he was alleged to.

“After the allegation was made in 2021, he was released under investigation by police without bail conditions and he went to the Philippines in March 2022 and got married. He came back for a couple of months in July 2022 then returned again in September of that year. At that time he was aware that the case was still being investigated, but police told him he could live his life.

“He went back and he in effect got stuck there. His wife became quite seriously ill and as there is no NHS in the Philippines he had to take out a loan to pay for treatment and had to give up his passport. For some time he was homeless in the Philippines and he tried every avenue to return that he could. It was not until August that he got a passport and the funds from his family.

“There was no extradition, he came back of his own accord and was arrested at the airport and has been in custody ever since.”

But sentencing Hassall, judge Recorder Michelle Brown said: “I am satisfied that you left the country to avoid prosecution for this offence.”

Addressing him, she said the victim has been ‘significantly affected by what you did’ and added: “She blames herself, but the fault lies entirely with you.”

Hassall was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register.