Stevenage man jailed for over seven years over child sex offences
Jury returns majority verdict following five-day trial
A Stevenage man has been handed a prison sentence of more than seven years after being convicted of child sexual offences.
Jamie Dunford, 34, of Archer Road, was jailed for seven years and six months on Friday 6 February after being found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child.
The court heard that the offences took place on 12 May 2024. Dunford drove the victim to his home in Stevenage after buying alcohol and energy drinks, which he gave to her. Other individuals were inside the property at the time.
Prosecutors told jurors that when Dunford and the victim were alone in his bedroom, he engaged in sexual activity with her.
He was arrested at his home the following day, 13 May 2024. During his police interview, Dunford made no comment in response to questions.
The case was heard over five days between 12 and 16 January, ending with a majority guilty verdict from the jury.
nvestigating officer Jason Tinsey, from the Hertfordshire Constabulary Sexual Offences Investigation Team, said:
“I want to first and foremost commend the victim for the bravery and co-operation that she has shown throughout this case.
“It is very difficult for a victim to speak about such distressing experiences, especially someone of a young age, and for that I want to show my gratitude to her for contributing to this investigation, which has ultimately led to achieving justice against an incredibly dangerous sex offender.
“Dunford was aware of the victim’s age throughout and took conscious steps to cover up his offending on the day after the offence took place. In addition to that, he shown no accountability for his actions during his time in custody.
Detective Sergeant Jonathan Green added:
“I want to praise the immense work of the investigator behind this case for his diligence and determination in getting justice for our victim. I hope that she is now able to move on in her life knowing that Dunford will be spending a considerable amount of time behind bars.”