December 2022 Sick South London paedophile groomed girl, 9, with treats and money before horrific sex attack A sick South London paedophile who groomed a 9-year-old girl with treats and money before sexually assaulting her has been jailed for over a decade. Anthony Winter, 64, was temporarily living at an address in South London where young children played. Over a matter of weeks he groomed the girl then on September 23, 2019, he sent another child on an errand and told her to count to 100 before coming back. During that time he digitally penetrated the victim in a shed. The brave victim immediately told her friends and the following day Winter was arrested. Winter denied the assault which meant the victim and five other children who witnessed Winter’s grooming behaviour then faced the terrifying experience of being cross-examined in court. By the time the trial took place the victim had been living with the horror of the abuse for years. Her and her fellow child witnesses’ strength and commitment, from the initial statements three years ago to the pre-recorded video cross-examinations in March, was a source of inspiration for Detective Sergeant Laura Thomas who investigated the horrific crime. She said: “It was terrifying for them but they were brilliant.” Winter was found guilty of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration after a six-day trial. On Wednesday (December 14) Winter appeared at Croydon Crown Court to be sentenced. Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe told the court that the victim had suffered severe psychological damage as a result of the assault. The young girl now feels extremely anxious when sees an elderly man in the street or a motorbike. Judge Elizabeth Smaller told Winter: “This once confident child now clings to her mum three years later because of your actions. One can only imagine the distress that he mother felt when she was asked ‘Why did you not keep me safe’ and the answer was that she trusted you.” The court heard that Winter had pornographic images on his phone that showed young looking girls in school uniforms. It was not proven that these girls were underage and Winter said he does not know how the images got on his phone. Winter did not accept the jury’s verdict and has expressed no remorse for the victim. Judge Smaller sentenced him to 11 years in prison with an addition one year extended licence period. He will serve two-thirds of that sentence before he is referred to the parole board. Judge Smaller said: “You are going to find the period of time you spend serving this sentence will be lonely, and upon your release from prison you will find yourself somewhat isolated in the community, these are the consequences of your behaviour.”