Former support worker jailed for sexual assault in Wrexham

A former support worker who sexually assaulted a man has been branded a dangerous offender and jailed.

Lee O’Brien, 52, rubbed his victim intimately and assaulted him from behind during an incident that took place around a decade ago at O’Brien’s former home in the Wrexham area.

The victim did not give his consent to the assault. O’Brien is now serving a prison sentence in England after he was convicted of sex offences against another victim.

Today at Mold Crown Court, O’Brien admitted assaulting a male by penetration. His Honour Rhys Rowlands sentenced him to nine years – with five and a half to be served in custody.

The court heard the victim had arrived at O’Brien’s home expecting other people, but it was just the two of them. Prosecutor John Wyn Williams said they sat on a sofa and O’Brien tried to kiss him but the victim pulled away. O’Brien got on top of him and was “bigger and stronger” so the victim couldn’t get him off.

O’Brien rubbed him intimately over his clothes before removing the victim’s trousers. “He could not see what it was (but) he felt a burning sensation in his anus as if he needed to go to the lavatory. He said it could have been a finger or it could have been an object,” said Mr Wyn Williams.

Suddenly O’Brien stopped and was “smiling”. No consent had been given, the court heard.

Years later, the victim undertook work training which “triggered a reaction” about the experience. He reported O’Brien to police on 22 June 2023.

When interviewed on 7 September 2023, O’Brien claimed the behaviour had been “consensual” and “mutual” with no sex.

Today the victim read a statement in court saying: “Before this incident I was living my best life. The world was my oyster.”

Afterwards, he became socially isolated and couldn’t trust people. He had nightmares and counselling. He prepared himself to give evidence in a trial when he would have relived his ordeal but then O’Brien pleaded guilty.

“You have taken away my voice by taking away ‘my’ trial,” he said.

He added: “You made me feel dirty and disgusting and I will never be able to get over this fact.”

Matthew Dunford, defending, said by O’Brien pleading guilty the victim did not have to be cross examined at a trial. Both men had been drinking and he had not “plied” his victim with drink as in the defendant’s other cases. O’Brien is genuinely remorseful.

The judge said the crime has had a severe psychological effect on the victim. He said O’Brien, currently in HMP Whatton in Nottinghamshire, is a dangerous offender so gave him an extended sentence.

He will serve two thirds of the five-and-a-half-year term of imprisonment. Then he will be on licence for a further three and a half years “to protect members of the public” against the risk he poses.