A Chippenham woman who sexually abused her 13-year-old sister has avoided an immediate prison sentence.
Jassey Snooks, 44, was unanimously convicted of inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity at trial at Winchester Crown Court on 8 December last year.
At a hearing before His Honour Judge Bromige on Tuesday (20 January), the former Hardenhuish School SEN teaching assistant returned to learn her fate.
The court was told that aged 26, the defendant kissed and touched her half sister Harriet Richards née Ashton-Phillips on an unknown date between 2008 and 2010.
Judge Bromige said that after splitting from her partner, mum-of-two Snooks used her child-free weekends to “enjoy her new found freedom”.
Evidence accepted by the jury showed that Harriet would spend time at the defendant’s flat in Chippenham, drinking alcohol and on occasions taking drugs including cocaine.
“It was not only drinking and drugs, but you also took her, as your sister, pretending to be much older with a fake ID that you purchased, to nightclubs – where she met older men”, Judge Bromige said.
Adding: “She started a relationship, when she was 15 years old and he was 23.
“From the evidence that was read, that male did not know her true age until later on, but you did, you could have stopped it, but rather, you condoned it.”
The court heard that Snooks, with Harriet, began engaging in explicit online chats with men via webcam sites like Chatroulette.
John Schofield, an old school friend of the defendant who was identified by detectives while examining a mobile phone, took to the stand during the trial – confirming that he had watched the sex shows.
Judge Bromige said: “You engaged in sharing explicit photographs, you would speak to him over a webcam whilst completely naked, masturbating in front of one another.
“The evidence really came from [Harriet’s friend], she told the jury, who accepted her evidence, that when she was present at your flat with you and Harriet, she would see the two of you go online via a webcam in your underwear, talking to men, posing in your bras and kissing two or three times.
“The kissing was described as “longer lasting kisses”. She was also aware of photographs that Harriet had on her mobile phone of the two of you in underwear together adopting sexual poses.”
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The offending was aggravated by the fact this was performed in front of Harriet’s friend, who was also a child, Judge Bromige continued.
He also accepted that Harriet suffered elements of severe psychological harm due to the abuse.
Adding: “The sexualised behaviour, and the drugs and alcohol, has impacted her throughout adulthood, including attempts on her own life.”
Judge Bromige said that allegations of sexual behaviour towards children were raised when Snooks worked as a SEN teaching assistant at Hardenhuish School in more recent years, and related to at least one former pupil.
While these allegations – which have not been proceeded with by the police or CPS – were not taken into account for sentencing, they formed part of the decision to impose a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Taking into account all factors and that the defendant supports her two adult children, aged 18 and 20, Judge Bromige imposed a 15-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
The defendant, of Wood Lane, Chippenham, was ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity and 175 hours of unpaid work.
She must register as a sex offender for ten years, and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years. The ancillary order comes with a number of prohibitions to protect under 16s from potential harm.
Snooks had stood trial accused of nine sexual offences relating to Harriet. The jury acquitted her of the eight remaining counts on the indictment.
The victim in this case, Harriet Richards, now aged 30, waived her legal right to anonymity to allow Wiltshire 999s to report the full details of Snooks’ offending.
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