A 37-year-old woman who supplied cocaine and MDMA to a 15-year-old boy and repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with him has been sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment at Salisbury Crown Court.
Clare Louise Townsend, of no fixed abode, appeared for sentence on Monday 12 October 2026 after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child following an inquiry by Dorset Police.
The court was told that Townsend first encountered the 15-year-old victim in late October 2024. Across the following months, Townsend facilitated the supply of Class A drugs to the child, providing him with both MDMA and cocaine. During the same period, she engaged in sexual activity with the teenager on at least 10 separate occasions.
Detectives from Dorset Police launched an extensive investigation into the exploitation and located Townsend in February 2026 inside an industrial warehouse in Sherborne, where she was detained and taken into custody. Facing the evidence gathered by investigators, Townsend entered formal guilty pleas on 10 April 2026.
Under the provisions of Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all child victims and complainants connected to sexual offence proceedings are protected by automatic, lifelong statutory anonymity. Publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any details, names, addresses, educational facilities, or photographs capable of leading to public identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Townsend pleaded guilty to:
Two counts of sexual activity with a child
Passing sentence on 12 October 2026, the Crown Court judge handed Townsend an immediate custodial term of three years and nine months’ imprisonment.
Alongside the custodial sentence, the court ordered:
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) running for a duration of 10 years
A five-year restraining order barring any direct or indirect contact with the victim
Mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Statutory post-custody licence supervision conditions upon release from prison
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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