ADRIAN NINNIS AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IN CORNWALL
A man accused of heinous acts of sexual abuse whose actions shattered the lives of two young victims has finally faced the consequences of his crimes in a court of law.Adrian Ninnis, aged 56, whose residence is on Polweath Road in Penzance, appeared before Truro Crown Court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to a total of seven counts of indecent assault.
The offences, which occurred in west Cornwall during the 1980s and 1990s, detailed a disturbing pattern of abuse inflicted upon children whose ages ranged from just five to ten years old.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Emily Cook outlined the gravity of the offences and the impact on the victims.
She revealed that one of the victims endured a series of abusive acts, including Ninnis rubbing his penis against him and placing his penis in the child's mouth, followed by ejaculation into his hand.
The second victim suffered digitally forced vaginal penetration and experienced numerous other forms of sexual misconduct.
It was also disclosed that Ninnis attempted to groom her by buying cigarettes for her, a manipulative tactic to gain her trust and compliance.
Both victims provided powerful victim impact statements that shed light on the long-lasting trauma inflicted by Ninnis.
The first victim described how the abuse had robbed him of confidence and left him feeling isolated and worthless.
He revealed that he struggled with depression and, in a moment of despair, was on the brink of jumping off a cliff until a chaplain appeared and intervened just in time to prevent him from taking his own life.
He expressed remorse, noting that since his guilty plea, he had ceased drinking—an attempt to mask his pain—and claimed to be trying to become a better person.
The second victim recounted a lifetime of suffering, stating she was “permanently scared” and resorted to alcohol and drugs from the age of just 12 to numb the memories of her abuse.
She frequently thought about ending her life and was burdened by anxiety and depression.
She described feeling “dirty and like damaged goods,” highlighting the deep psychological scars left by Ninnis’s actions.
Representing Ninnis, solicitor Piers Norsworthy emphasized his client’s remorse.
He expressed that Ninnis wished to apologise for the pain he had caused and acknowledged being in a state of denial for many years.
Norsworthy explained that Ninnis’s difficult early life, including being subjected to sexual abuse by one of his mother’s partners, had significantly affected his emotional and social development.
He also noted that guilty pleas in such cases are exceedingly rare, underscoring the remorse his client displayed.
Judge Robert Linford delivered the sentence, acknowledging the impact of the abuse on the victims.
He stated, “The victim impact statements show how both complainants have been affected by the abuse and how it continues to affect their lives.
When the abuse ended, you moved on with your life and seemingly forgot what you had done.
However, the victims have not been able to forget, and the shadow of this sexual abuse has continued to hang over them.” The judge also considered Ninnis’s mitigation and the fact that his guilty pleas spared the victims from reliving their trauma through court proceedings.
Ultimately, Ninnis was sentenced to 12 years in prison—comprising 10 years of detention followed by two years of extended licence.
He was also subjected to a restraining order, a sexual harm prevention order, and required to register as a sex offender for life.
