Man sentenced to 11 years for assaulting child under 13
Guilty plea leads to prison and lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order
A man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault by penetration of a child under the age of 13.
The sentencing took place at Guildford Crown Court on 14th January for offences reported in December 2022.
According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), the child's grandmother initially contacted Surrey Police to report the crime.
The child disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted by her father over a two-year period.
He would message the child daily, using coded language to manipulate the situation.
One of the messages read: ‘I do so much for you, I would feel really upset if you told anyone.’
Detective Constable Nicola Dell praised the child for her bravery in sharing her experiences.
"The bravery and strength of the victim-survivor to share what they have been through is admirable,” Dell said.
She added, "The man in this case should have been a trusted figure. Instead, he chose to use this trust to manipulate a child to suit his own deviancy."
Dell emphasised the importance of reaching out for help, noting that Surrey Police takes reports of sexual abuse extremely seriously.
Further information about reporting such offences can be found on Surrey Police's website.