A Swindon photographer has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a girl and taking an indecent photograph of her.
The serious incident took place at his then-popular Brunel Shopping Centre photography studio called Lifestyle Portraits in June 2016.
Brian Claassen, 40, of Cambridgeshire, was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court today.
Following today’s sentencing, Det Con Mark Harris from Swindon CID said: “I am extremely pleased with the sentence handed out today.
“I must thank the family involved; without the questioning nature of this young girl – who told her mum and dad in the first place – and the help and support her parents have given our investigation team, it’s possible Claassen’s activities could have gone undetected; instead, their vital evidence has led to a guilty plea and sentence.
“This case highlights the dedication Wiltshire Police have to victims of sexual offences.
“Today’s outcome sends a message to anyone who carries out this sort of behaviour – we will thoroughly investigate and bring you to justice.”
As well as the custodial sentence, Classen will be on the Sex Offenders register for 10 years and will be the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. His electronic equipment will be forfeited.
If you have been a victim of a sexual assault, please call police via 101 or the Swindon Assault Referral Centre (SARC) on 0808 168 0024. The helpline is available 24 hours a day.
