In 2018, a former mayor, Simon Thornton, the Borden Paedophile, was sentenced to nine years in prison for child sexual crimes involving a 13-year-old girl.
Simon Thornton, a former Conservative councillor aged 46 and former Mayor of Godalming, Surrey, enticed the child with confectionery and a high-end mobile phone, as presented at Guildford Crown Court.
Simon Thornton compelled the adolescent girl to share a bed with him and his spouse throughout the three years of maltreatment, according to reports from Get Surrey.
The court was informed that Simon Thornton stated to the arresting police officers, “Are you aware that I am the Mayor of Godalming?”
Simon Thornton confessed to 22 child sexual crimes, involving sexual contact with the girl when she was between the ages of 13 and 15.
He refuted two additional charges of soliciting sexual services and creating child pornography.
The judge recounted the sexual abuse inflicted upon the girl on a “weekly” basis over a span of three years.
During the sentencing on Monday, the court was informed that Simon Thornton participated in sexual activities with the unnamed youngster in various locations, including their residences, an office, a wooded area, and a van.
The court was informed that Simon Thornton “groomed” the girl beginning on her 13th birthday, presenting her with confectionery and the “latest mobile phone”.
He collected her from school and extended invitations to his workplace and residence whenever feasible.
During the police investigation, officers discovered condoms under the floorboards of his office in the butchers’ shop he owned at the time.
He even had her sleep next to him and his now ex-wife in an attempt to normalise his behaviour. Of course, his ex-wife did not face charges even though she slept with Simon Thornton and an unrelated child.
Investigating officer, police constable Tamzin Ede, said: “Simon Thornton displayed predatory behaviour to abuse a child for a prolonged period.
“He clearly believed he would get away with this offence, given how long it carried on, and has now rightly been jailed for his abhorrent crimes.
Simon Thornton’s crimes have impacted the victim throughout her childhood and into adult life; the offending against her has caused low confidence, depression and difficulties in building new trusted relationships.
“The victim in this case has shown real courage in reporting and supporting the police investigation.”
Wendy Cottee, prosecuting, said the victim was suffering from personal problems at home.
Ms Cottee said: “At the time she felt safe and secure and did not see anything wrong about what was happening.”
She said how the victim added Simon Thornton’s contact details under the name “Charlie” on her phone, who she described as “someone she was going out with” to her family.
It was only when she turned 15 that the victim began to realise his behaviour was wrong and decided to distance herself from Simon Thornton.
When Simon Thornton was arrested on October 24 2017, at his butcher’s shop in Godalming, he told police: “You know I am the Mayor of Godalming?”
The court heard a statement read out on behalf of the victim, who talked about her “toxic relationship” with her mother, how she felt “safe” in Simon Thornton’s company and felt very “anxious and nervous” when she told police about their relationship.
The statement that she has “suffered with depression” and how she “isolates” herself, struggling to form new friendships in her life.
Ian Wilkinson, for the defence, told the court how Simon Thornton suffered from dyslexia and tried to overcome it to go to college to pursue a career.
Mr Wilkinson told the court how Mr Simon Thornton expressed “remorse” the moment he was arrested and confessed to his wife on the phone at the police station about what had happened, and understood how this had an effect on his friends and family.
The insane defence counsel stated he has no previous convictions and has added “nothing suggests Mr Simon Thornton is a dangerous offender”.
Before delivering the sentence, Judge Robert Fraser told Simon Thornton: “The fact is you exploited her vulnerability.”
On May 8, Simon Thornton pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including eight counts of sexual activity with a child, possessing indecent images of a child, including category A – the highest rating – videos, 33 Cat A photos, 2 Cat B photos and 32 Cat C photos.
He was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, where he was told he had to serve “at least half of that”. If he is released before this time, he will serve the rest of his sentence on licence.
Simon Thornton, of Borden, Hampshire, will be on the Sexual Offenders Register and receives a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to be served indefinitely.
He has been disqualified from working with children indefinitely, too.
Simon Thornton entered not guilty pleas for voyeurism and paying a child for sexual services, which will “remain on file”.
Simon Thornton is out and about looking for a child to groom.
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