A 58-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment after he was found guilty of eight counts of non-recent sex offences.
Robert Boden, of St Albans, was found guilty by jury following a trial at Winchester Crown Court on 13 April and was given an extended license period of four years.
His name will remain on the sex offender register for the duration of his life and he is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
Between 1983 and 1995, Boden committed a number of indecent assaults on a young girl when she was aged three to 14, in Wiltshire, Somerset, Surrey and Dorset.
Detective Sergeant Catherine Kirkham said: “The victim in this case only felt strong enough to report the abuse she had suffered throughout her childhood in 2014.
“For many years, she attempted to live a normal life with the traumatic memories of the abuse at the hands of Boden bottled up inside – I commend her for the bravery she has shown in not only coming forward and contacting police but in then standing up in court and giving evidence after Boden denied all charges.
“Without her bravery, we may not have reached this successful conviction.
“Boden has shown no remorse for his actions throughout the whole criminal process. I am satisfied with the sentence handed out to him – although nothing will erase the awful memories and the long lasting affects his abuse has no doubt had on his victim, I hope that it gives her some form of closure and enables her to move on with her life knowing justice has been done.
“I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may have been a victim of sex abuse, regardless of how much time has passed, to report it to police. We will investigate, provide you with the full support you need, and do all that we can to bring to justice offenders like Boden.”
You can contact Wiltshire Police by calling 101. Victims can also seek support and counselling from the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) based at the New Swindon Sanctuary – they can be contacted on the 24-hour helpline 0808 168 0024.
