A TEENAGE boy was left feeling ‘unworthy to live’ after being sexually assaulted in a Hartford park by a man twice his age.

The boy, then 15, arranged to meet the man, Daniel Brinksman, at the park one night in 2015, after initially connecting 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.

Maria Masselis, prosecuting the case at Chester Crown Court, said the ordeal only ended when Brinksman fled after hearing noises coming from a nearby garden.

The assault only came to light seven years later, but Brinksman initially denied ever speaking to the boy on Grindr, or meeting him for sex.

While the original Grindr messages were never recovered, other messages, sent between two and three years later, proved they did know each other.

Brinksman initially faced eight sexual offences charges, including rape, for which his trial began on Monday, August 19.

However, early in the proceedings, he pleaded guilty to an amended indictment containing three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Daniel BrinksmanDaniel Brinksman (Image: Cheshire Police)

At a sentence hearing on Wednesday, August 28, the boy read his own victim impact statement from behind a screen, when he listed a raft of serious mental health problems he now suffers as a result.

He said his abuse at the hands of Brinkman had ‘ruined his life’, left him feeling like he ‘wanted to die’ because he felt ‘unworthy to live’.

Defending, Max Saffman told the court Brinksman had ‘a sad upbringing’, and had for long periods lived in his car, relying on friends for food and basic hygiene.

He added his client suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, depression, and anxiety, and has experienced learning difficulties in the past.

Brinksman has been using his time in prison wisely, Mr Saffman added, working on his literacy, and completing courses in customer services and warehouse operations.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Berkson said Brinksman had exploited his victim’s ‘naivety about sexual matters’, adding he had no doubt he’d suffered ‘substantial adverse effects, both mental and physical’.

Judge Berkson handed Brinksman a 25-months prison sentence, ordered him to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, and made an amendment to an already existing indefinite sexual harm prevention order.  

He also made an indefinite restraining order, banning him from contacting his victim by any means.