A St Austell Paedophile Child Molester, Michael Snell, who sexually assaulted two young girls has been sentenced to over ten years in prison. Michael Snell inflicted abhorrent sexual abuse onto his young victims.
During a sentence hearing at Truro Crown Court today (Friday, August 15), it was revealed that the 64-year-old, Michael Snell, from Clifton Road in St Austell sexually incited his victims to gratify him, engaged in gross indecency with them, and indecently assaulted them.
Michael Snell was convicted earlier this month on nine counts of sexual offences, including sexual assault, gross indecency, indecent assault, and enticing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual behaviour.
The sexual offences occurred in the 1990s in Cornwall, leaving the victims grappling with the repercussions of the abuse.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, one of Michael Snell’s victims said what he did to them had a long-lasting impact on their physical and mental health.
She said the abuse made her doubt herself, made her fearful to go outside and forced her to give up work. She said: “I’m stuck on feeling ashamed.”
Another of his victims added: “I feel physically and mentally drained. Justice can help the healing process but what he did will never be forgiven.”
She told the court how she has been on medication for depression and anxiety, and for years feared to go outside. She said she’s had years of sleepless nights and has suffered ongoing nightmares.
She added: “Him being found guilty is like a weight has suddenly been lifted. For the first time in years I’ve been able to sleep.”
His Honour Judge Simon Carr said: “You have shown no remorse or insight into the harm you have caused. You could have pleaded guilty at any point but you chose not to. You were a man of good character but you lost that good character years ago.”
Judge Carr sentenced Michael Snell to 15 years in prison plus one more year on licence. He will be on the sex offenders’ register for life. A restraining order is also in place until further notice.
He will serve a minimum of two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
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