In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Tony West, then 18, of Zeals, Wiltshire, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court for the sexual abuse of an eight-year-old boy. West, a family friend who had known the victim for years, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13 following a trial where he denied all charges.
The court heard that West had been a regular presence in the victim’s village, often “lurking” at the ends of gardens waiting for children to come out to play. The abuse was uncovered after a neighbour expressed unease about West’s “obsession” with young children, prompting the victim’s mother to question her son. The boy revealed he had been touched inappropriately both over and under his clothing. West had manipulated the child into silence by threatening him, claiming that if the boy told anyone, West would be “sent to prison and made to eat mouldy food.”
The victim’s mother provided a harrowing account of the impact on her son, stating he had lost all trust in friends and became withdrawn, even fearing physical affection from her. The boy suffered extreme anxiety, picking his fingers until they bled and experiencing bed-wetting in the lead-up to the trial. Because West refused to admit his crimes, the child was forced to undergo questioning in court. The mother praised Wiltshire Police for their investigation but expressed “disgust” at the lenient sentence, stating that the “justice system” had failed her son.
Tony West was handed a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service. This meant he avoided immediate imprisonment despite the severity of the abuse and his lack of remorse. The judge noted that West’s actions had left the young victim feeling that the abuse was “okay” because it was committed by someone he considered a friend.
As a result of his conviction for child sexual assault, West is required to sign the Sex Offenders Register. He is managed under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in the Wiltshire area. This framework ensures that Wiltshire Police and the National Probation Service monitor his residency and behaviour. He is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which legally restricts his contact with children and allows authorities to monitor his activities to prevent further risk to the community.
Tony West now lives in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
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