Orthodox Jew Jailed for Sexually Assaulting Girl Makes Audacious Attempt to Be Released Early So He Can Attend His Son's Bar Mitzvah

By Ben Endley
Daily Mail
February 27, 2014

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2567716/Orthodox-Jew-jailed-sexually-assaulting-girl-makes-audacious-attempt-released-early-attend-sons-bar-Mitzvah.html

An Orthodox Jew who sexually abused a schoolgirl has failed in his bid to be released early to attend his young son’s Bar Mitzvah.

Menachem Mendel Levy, 41, is currently serving a three-year jail term after being convicted of two sex assaults in June 2013.

His victim, now in her 20s, was aged between 14 and 15 years old when the attacks took place.

Menachem Mendel Levy, 41, is currently serving a three-year jail term after being convicted of two sex assaults in June 2013

Today at the Court of Appeal he appealed against both his conviction and the sentence in the hope of being released early to attend his son's 'important milestone' in July or August.

Tania Griffiths, QC, representing Levy, said: ‘His son is about to reach Bar Mitzvah age.

'This is such an important milestone. He really needs to be out for that.

'It would be extremely upsetting for those involved if he was not able to make it.

Court of Appeal judges sitting in the Royal Courts of Justice (pictured) rejected Levy's appeal against conviction and sentence

This man is a very religious man. We have a changed man, literally a changed man.

‘This is a man who was trying to make things better before the police ever came and darkened his doorstep.

‘This man is a real family man. He has a baby of two months that he has never seen.’

She also argued that the trial judge had misdirected the jury, after confusing the location of an alleged incident.

But Mr Justice Fulford, sitting with Mr Justice Griffith Williams and His Honour Judge Griffith-Jones, said: 'In reality, there was no risk of confusion'

But Mr Justice Fulford, sitting with Mr Justice Griffith Williams and His Honour Judge Griffith-Jones, said: ‘In reality, there was no risk of confusion.'

He said there was ‘no substance’ - not even a ‘lurking doubt’ that jurors were pressurised into returning guilty verdicts.

‘There is simply no such evidence.

‘The verdicts are safe and this appeal against conviction is dismissed’.

‘The judge was entitled to accept the victim’s evidence that the abuse began when she was 14.

‘The judge was fully entitled to reach the conclusion that no real remorse has been shown.’

At Levy’s trial, claims emerged that the girl had asked her abuser to come clean in front of a local Rabbi in 2010.

When he refused to do so she went to the police.

Levy, of Golders Green, north London, will serve out his three year jail sentence for two counts of sexual assault upon a girl under 16.