POLICE have praised the courage of a 24-year-old man who suffered a ‘horrific’ sexual assault at the hands of a paedophile when he was just 15.  

Speaking of the victim, Detective Sergeant Helen Harrison said seeing his abuser, Daniel Brinksman, sentenced to 25 months in prison on Wednesday, August 28, has ‘helped him in his recovery’.

The young man, who can’t be named for legal reasons, met Brinksman in a Hartford park in 2015 after striking up a conversation with him on gay dating app, Grindr.

Brinksman waited for him on a swing, and when the boy approached, the then 30-year-old put his hands down his trousers without saying a word.

He then led the boy to a quieter part of the park, before carrying out further, more serious sexual acts, without the boy’s consent.

DS Harrison said she hopes the young man’s bravery will set an example to other victims of sexual abuse who may be afraid to come forward.  

She said: “Brinksman’s actions were horrific. The impact of the assaults are something the victim has struggled to overcome over the years, and it’s had an acute and damaging impact on his mental health.

“After bravely coming forward to police and having the courage to go through a trial, now aged 24, he is seeing his abuser jailed for his horrific actions.

“This result has helped him in his recovery, and he was even able to read out his victim impact statement to the court.

“I hope this encourages victims of sexual abuse to come forward and reassures them we are here them.

"We will listen, and we will do our very best to get justice for you.”