Trowbridge man jailed for sexually abusing young girl
Police have described 60-year-old Simon Hudd as "selfish and predatory"
A man from Trowbridge has been jailed after admitting sexually abusing a girl under 13 years old.
Stephen Hudd, 60, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court to 13 years and 9 months in prison for multiple sexual offences.
Hudd had pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of assault by penetration.
He will serve at least 12 years and 9 months in custody and be released on licence for a year following this term.
Hudd will also be placed on the Sex Offenders register, preventing him from working unsupervised with children or young people.
In a statement read to the court, the victim's mother said: "Although my daughter is the victim in all of this, these events and the trauma it has caused has n ot just impacted her. This has had a devastating effect on our entire family, and it has blown our world apart.
“The consequences of his actions have had a huge ripple effect and continue to affect every part of our lives. It is truly heartbreaking. He has ruined everything for her - how she views men, how she views the world, and he has taken the innocence of her childhood away.”
DC Danielle Swanborough said: "Hudd's selfish and predatory actions have been devastating for his victim and those around her.
“I would like to praise the bravery of the survivor of this abuse and the support we have been given by her family during this investigation. Hudd will now serve a significant amount of time in prison.”