In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that Kevin Cousins, then 36, of Melksham, Wiltshire, was jailed for five years and six months for a series of “vile” child sex offences. On Monday, 19 March 2018, the defendant appeared at Salisbury Crown Court for sentencing. It was reported that Cousins, who was employed as a teaching assistant at a primary school in Wiltshire, used his position of trust to sexually assault a child and compile a library of abuse imagery.
The investigation established that the abuse came to light in March 2017 after the victim spoke to their mother about Cousins’ actions. Wiltshire Police reported that upon his arrest, forensic officers seized his computer and discovered multiple indecent images of children. The prosecution reported that some of these files were Category A—the most severe level of child abuse—depicting the “monstrous” exploitation of minors in Melksham, Wiltshire.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Cousins grossly breached the fundamental trust inherent in his role as a primary school teaching assistant. Salisbury Crown Court heard a statement from the victim’s mother, who described the family’s “shock and anger” and the bravery of the child throughout the investigation. The prosecution reported that the defendant pleaded guilty to seven offences, including two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and five counts of making or taking indecent images in Wiltshire.
Detective Constable Sam Long noted that the sentence reflected the gravity of the offences and the professional betrayal involved. For his actions in Melksham, Wiltshire, Cousins was handed a custodial term of five years and six months. The judge noted that because the defendant had targeted a child in his care, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was necessary to provide long-term protection for the public and prevent any future contact with children.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Kevin Cousins was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Five years and six months in prison (March 2018).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life.
- SHPO: An indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
- Professional Status: Permanently barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court following an investigation by the Child Abuse Investigation Team.
- Origin: Melksham, Wiltshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Cousins is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Wiltshire Police and the National Probation Service in the Melksham area. Due to the “predatory” nature of his offences within a primary school setting in Wiltshire, his management is subject to intensive oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Cousins must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence for the remainder of his life. Authorities state that his history of breaching professional trust and possessing Category A imagery necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct and digital access. Any further sexual misconduct or breach of his indefinite SHPO in Melksham, Salisbury, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.