A Rhyl man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after leaving a disturbing note for a schoolgirl at a bus stop in Flintshire. 📱⚖️
Craig McDermid, 55, of Haddon Close, Rhyl, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Thursday (February 27) for sentencing after previously admitting to engaging in sexual communication with a child.
The court heard that in May last year, the victim found a note at her bus stop containing the words: “lift your skirt up.” She had previously noticed McDermid’s red car parked near the bus stop on several occasions and once believed he was filming her.
After discovering the note, the girl immediately contacted her father, who confronted McDermid at the scene. Though McDermid denied any wrongdoing and drove away, police later traced the vehicle to him and CCTV footage showed him dropping the note at the bus stop.
In her victim personal statement, the girl said the incident left her feeling “anxious and confused.” She expressed fear about walking alone and concern that McDermid would be “out there,” adding that she worried about the safety of her friends.
The court also heard that McDermid had a previous conviction for indecent assault on a girl under 16 on a bus in 2000, and in 2004 he breached his sexual offenders notice requirements.
Defence counsel Sarah Yates requested a suspended sentence to allow the probation service to address McDermid’s issues, arguing he would otherwise go to prison “untreated.”
However, Judge Simon Mills stated he wasn’t satisfied there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and sentenced McDermid to 15 months imprisonment, of which he will serve half in custody and the remainder on licence.
McDermid must adhere to notification provisions for sex offenders for 10 years and was given a sexual harm prevention order.
