ALISDAIR HAMILTON OF COLCHESTER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON SCHOOLGIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Colchester, Alisdair Hamilton, a 72-year-old former primary school headmaster, has been sentenced to 45 months in prison following his conviction for sexually assaulting a young girl. The incident, which dates back to 2003, involved a series of disturbing acts committed against a girl who was between the ages of seven and ten at the time.

Hamilton, residing on Egmont Way in Colchester, initially denied all charges, which included two counts of indecent assault and six counts of sexual assault. The trial at Ipswich Crown Court began with Hamilton maintaining his innocence. However, by the fourth day of proceedings, on Thursday, May 16, he chose to admit to one count of indecent assault and all six counts of sexual assault. The jury was directed to find him not guilty on the remaining indecent assault charge.

Judge David Pugh, presiding over the case, agreed to adjourn sentencing until Monday, May 20, to give Hamilton time to prepare for his upcoming imprisonment. During the hearing, the court was informed of the nature of the assaults, which included Hamilton kissing the young girl on the mouth and touching her breasts and genitals over and under her clothing. The court also heard that during one of these incidents, the girl was seen stroking her face with her comfort blanket and playing with a soft toy, indicating her distress and the impact of the abuse.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Pugh emphasized the profound effect the offences had on the victim. He stated that the crimes were serious and that the consequences for the girl’s well-being were significant. The judge also ordered Hamilton to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, reflecting the severity of his actions.

Jeremy Rosenberg, representing Hamilton, argued that his client had spent his career helping and nurturing young people and expressed genuine remorse for his actions. Despite this, the court found the evidence compelling enough to impose a substantial prison sentence. Hamilton was granted bail pending his transfer to prison and was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register on an interim basis.

This case underscores the ongoing issues of safeguarding and the importance of holding offenders accountable, especially those in positions of trust within educational settings. The community of Colchester is left to grapple with the revelations and the impact on the victim, whose courage in coming forward has been acknowledged by the court.