A 52-year-old Hertfordshire man who subjected a girl under the age of 14 to historical sexual assaults more than three decades ago has been sentenced to three years and four months’ imprisonment at St Albans Crown Court.
Paul Abbott, aka Paul Jason, of The Pastures in Hemel Hempstead, appeared in the dock for sentence on Thursday 14 November 2024 following a jury trial into non-recent offences investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary.
The court heard that Abbott carried out the sexual assaults against the child victim between 1 March and 1 June 1992. When the survivor came forward to report the abuse years later, detectives launched an investigation that led to Abbott being charged and brought before the Crown Court.
Abbott pleaded not guilty to the indictment, forcing a trial at St Albans Crown Court. At the conclusion of the evidence, jurors convicted him on three counts while acquitting him on a fourth:
Three counts of sexual assault against a girl under the age of 14 (guilty)
One count of sexual assault against a girl under the age of 14 (not guilty)
Following the sentencing hearing, a spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary stated:
“Becoming a victim of sexual assault is never your fault. If you’ve been a victim, no matter how long ago the offence occurred, please report it. We have specialist officers on hand to provide advice and support throughout an investigation. The constabulary also has a number of officers who are specially trained to provide support to members of the LGBT+ community.”
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, the child victim in this case is protected by mandatory, lifelong statutory anonymity. Any publication, broadcast, or public dissemination of information capable of leading to her identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Sentencing Abbott at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday 14 November, the presiding judge handed down an immediate custodial sentence of 40 months’ (three years and four months’) imprisonment.
Alongside his custodial sentence, Abbott was ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made subject to a restraining order prohibiting him from making any contact with his victim.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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