In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Christopher Towner, then 52, of High Street, Swanage, Dorset, was jailed for 10 years for a “vile” and “vicious” campaign of child rape and sexual abuse. Towner appeared at Oxford Crown Court, Oxfordshire, where he broke down in tears as he was held accountable for “serious” crimes committed in the Banbury area, Oxfordshire, during the 1990s.
The investigation revealed that Towner “callously” preyed on a nine-year-old girl, “vilely” grooming her by telling her that her parents did not love her. He “viciously” moved from molestation to carrying out multiple rapes over a prolonged period. On one “horrendous” occasion, he even sexually assaulted the young girl while another child was present. Although he had over 100 previous convictions for other matters, he “dishonestly” denied these “serious” sexual charges until a jury found him guilty.
“Abusive” Denials and Victim Impact
When the allegations first came to light, Towner “callously” used abusive language to dismiss the victim’s claims, “vilely” describing the reports as “a load of bs.” However, the “serious” evidence presented in court proved his guilt. The victim, now a woman, provided a statement reporting that she suffers from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She emphasised that she no longer feels positive emotions, having become used to “hiding her feelings to survive her ordeal.”
Judge Zoe Smith emphasised that the victim was a “particularly naive, young girl” at the time. She reported that the woman’s lifelong emotional difficulties were a direct result of the “vicious” abuse Towner had inflicted upon her.
Sentence and Lifelong Monitoring
For his “vile” and “vicious” crimes, including rape and indecent assault, Christopher Towner was:
- Jailed for 10 years.
- Ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
- Subject to strict monitoring upon his eventual release.
Towner is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Dorset Police and Thames Valley Police, ensuring his behaviour and residency in Swanage, Banbury, and the wider Dorset and Oxfordshire areas are strictly monitored for the rest of his life. Any future “vile” conduct or attempt to contact the victim will result in his immediate arrest.
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