Former army cadet leader jailed for abusing girl in Redbourn
A woman Javier Franco, 52, abused when she was 13 spotted him in public and reported him decades later
A former army cadet leader has been jailed for indecently assaulting a girl more than 20 years ago.
Javier Franco, a 52-year-old formerly of Redbourn, was sentenced to three years and seven months at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday 26th August.
The girl was 13 at the time of the offence, which happened in 2004 when Franco was her cadet leader.
What happened
Franco told the girl, one of his army cadets, to meet him in Greenwood Park, Chiswell Green, saying he had a certificate for her.
He then took her to his bedsit, where he indecently assaulted her.
She reported Franco to police two years ago after she spotted him in public.
He was arrested on 12th June 2023 and later pleaded guilty.
Police reaction
Detective Constable Sophie Beach, from the constabulary's Public Protection Unit, said: "Firstly, I want to commend the brave victim for coming forward. She described how seeing him in public all those years later, made her feel sick and she felt she had to report it. We are so glad she did. Nobody should have to suffer in silence while their perpetrator gets away with such a heinous crime.
"Franco will now rightly be serving prison time for the indecent assault. In addition to that, he is now on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order, preventing him from contacting the victim, have also put in place.
"I hope this case reassures anybody else out there who is a victim of sexual assault or rape and is unsure to tell us. We will take your report seriously and fight for justice, no matter how long ago the offence occurred. We want to help you and we will do everything we can to make the process as easy as possible for you."
Where to get support
Anyone in Hertfordshire who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence can contact the Herts Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for practical and emotional support.
To contact Herts SARC, call 0330 223 0099 or visit hertssarc.org.