Man jailed for nearly 20 years after sexually abusing a young girl in St Ives
Robert Jepson carried out the abuse over almost seven years, before the victim bravely came forward last year
A man who raped and sexually abused a young girl in St Ives over nearly seven years has been jailed 19-and-a-hald years.
62-year-old Robert Jepson abused the victim between December 2015 and October 2022.
He additionally carried out numerous other sexual offences.
After having a class about appropriate consent and sexual behaviour, the girl disclosed what had happened to her to police in February 2023.
Police arrested Jepson, though he denied charges and blamed the victim for instigating the sexual contact.
However, on Wednesday (13 May), at Cambridge Crown Court, Jepson, of Woodford, near Kettering, was jailed after a jury found him unanimously guilty of rape, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 and six counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.
He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and handed indefinite sexual harm prevention and restraining orders.
DC Leah Meftah, who investigated, said: “Jepson was a manipulative abuser who committed serious sexual offences over many years.
“He apportioned the blame of these offences on a vulnerable child, and took no responsibility for his actions, describing the victim as manipulative and instigating the offences.
“The victim showed the upmost courage in disclosing her offences, and showed immense bravery throughout the judicial process. The impact of these types of cases on all of the families involved is far reaching but this was a successful prosecution due to the strength of the victim and her family.
"Anyone who experiences sexual abuse can take the next step in reporting it to us - we have special trained officers to deal with your allegation."