Teen fled Christchurch Premier Inn after sex attack by 62-year-old Michael Parcell, from Lightwater, Guildford, Bournemouth Crown Court hears

A terrified teenager fled a Premier Inn in Christchurch after he was sexually assaulted by a 62-year-old man.

The victim was found afterwards wearing only shorts in a “distressed state” by police whom he had called begging for help.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how he had agreed to play the part of a learner driver for Michael Parcell for a driving instructor exam he was due to take in the town.

Prosecutor Charles Gabb told how on the journey down to Bournemouth on 21st August 2023 the teen drank three bottles of beer which were given to him by Parcell.

When they checked into their twin-bed room the defendant went out twice for more alcohol with the victim saying that he had drunk at least six bottles of beer – probably more.

Mr Gabb said the teen had then gone to sleep wearing only boxer shorts but had been woken by Parcell pulling the duvet off him.

As the prosecutor outlined what happened next, the defendant – from Lightwater, Guildford – sobbed loudly in the dock.

Mr Gabb said the teen had “felt his shorts being pulled down” adding: “He was in complete shock. Frightened and scared and simply did not know what to do.”

The defendant then started to “grope” the youth. The teenager later told police he was “frozen in fear” and pretended to be asleep in the hope Parcell would stop.

When he did not, the teen “rolled over” to the other side of the bed to get away.

But Parcell walked around the bed and carried on his attack, Mr Gabb explained. The court heard that although the victim did not realise at the time, Parcell was also filming the assault on his mobile phone.

The teen again tried to roll away from him but Parcell forced him into a sex act.

Mr Gabb said the boy had then rushed to the toilet and when he came out Parcell was pretending to be asleep. The victim fled the room and called police.

When police arrived they arrested Parcell, who denied that he had touched the boy.

But after inspecting the defendant’s phone they found footage of the attack.

When confronted, Parcell said he had been watching gay porn which was what the footage was, and had a “fling with another man”.

Mr Gabb said at a second police interview he had then “concocted a ludicrous explanation” claiming what had happened to the youth was a “joke that had gone wrong”.

Parcell claimed he and the victim had been talking about massages and that he had “suggested” giving the youth one. He said he had then “jokingly” pulled his shorts down and had filmed what happened “to cover himself”. He inferred that the teen was a “willing” participant in what happened after - which the prosecution said was “wholly untrue.”

In a victim impact statement the boy said he had been left “shattered” by the attack adding: “It’s not just my body that has been violated.

“He has taken something from me; something that I can never get back.”

The teen said he carried “anxiety and fear” with him every day, adding: “The idea of trusting anyone feels impossible to me now.”

Defending, barrister Rebecca Thomas told how Parcell, who pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual assault including one of penetration, felt a “profound sense of shame” about what occurred that night.

She said he had never offended before, was known as a “pillar of society” where he lived and had tried to commit suicide while on bail.

Describing Parcell as a “loving father and family man”, she said he accepted that he had “convinced himself there was consent when there was none” and had “got carried away in the moment”.

Ms Thomas added that he he had lied to police “out of confusion and shame” and in the knowledge that he had “ruined his life and potentially another”.

But when she described how Parcell claimed the offences were not premeditated, the judge interrupted her: “That seems to me to be manifestly untrue.” He pointed out how he had booked one room for them and had encouraged the teen to drink.

Jailing Parcell for a total of five years, Judge Robert Pawson told him he had “planned the sexual assault” on his victim, adding that it would have been “harrowing beyond measure and provide him with a memory he cannot rub out”.

He also ordered that Parcell, whom the court heard was supported by his wife and family, be placed on the sex offenders register for life and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.