In 2022, the Offender Database recorded that Anthony Plummer, then 71, of Clydebank Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, was jailed for 28 years for a “prolific” series of non-recent child sex offences. On Friday, 14 January 2022, Plummer appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing following a jury trial in November. The court reported that the defendant targeted four girls over a period of 31 years, with his crimes spanning from 1978 to 2009.
The investigation established that Plummer abused children aged between 9 and 16. The case was brought to light in 2019 when one of his victims contacted Hampshire Constabulary, prompting three further victims to come forward. Following a thorough investigation, Plummer was charged with 13 offences, including two counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, and three counts of assault by penetration. Despite his “predatory” history, he pleaded not guilty to all charges, forcing the survivors to relive their trauma during a lengthy trial.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Plummer was a “dangerous person” who had systematically exploited young girls for decades in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Portsmouth Crown Court heard emotive impact statements from the survivors, which were bravely read out in court. Judge David Melville QC noted that no one could fail to be moved by the accounts of the damage Plummer had inflicted. The judge noted that the defendant’s refusal to admit his crimes demonstrated a complete lack of remorse for the lives he had shattered.
The judge noted that the 28-year sentence was necessary to reflect the gravity and duration of the abuse. For his actions in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Plummer was also handed a two-year licence extension to ensure long-term public protection following his eventual release. The prosecution reported that the successful conviction was a testament to the bravery of the four women who spoke out after decades of silence, ensuring that their abuser would face justice in his senior years.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Anthony Plummer was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 28 years in prison.
- Extended Licence: Two years of mandatory supervision following release.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court following a jury trial.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Plummer is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hampshire Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to the “predatory and dangerous” nature of his offending across several decades in Portsmouth, Hampshire, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Plummer must comply with notification requirements regarding any future residence in Clydebank Road, Portsmouth, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his extended licence ensures he will remain under strict statutory control well into his 90s. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms—should he ever be released—will result in immediate arrest and a return to Portsmouth Crown Court.
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