CHRISTOPHER TOWNER FROM SWANAGE SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN OXFORD AND BANBURY

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Swanage and the surrounding areas, Christopher Towner, aged 52, was sentenced to a decade behind bars for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old girl. The offences, which spanned over a period in the 1990s, were committed in the Banbury area, and the conviction was secured at Oxford Crown Court.

During the sentencing hearing, Towner, who resides on High Street in Swanage, was visibly emotional, breaking down in tears as the court delivered its verdict. Despite denying the numerous charges brought against him, a jury found him guilty on six counts, including indecent assault and rape, after evidence was presented that detailed his disturbing acts against the young girl. The court heard that the abuse was not a one-time event but a series of repeated violations, some of which involved penetrative acts and even rape.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was subjected to a campaign of grooming and manipulation by Towner. Court records revealed that he told her that her parents did not love her, a tactic aimed at breaking her spirit and making her more compliant. The abuse included a particularly disturbing incident where Towner performed a sex act on her in the presence of another child, further illustrating the depravity of his actions. Throughout her ordeal, he repeatedly raped her, causing profound and lasting trauma.

In her victim personal statement, the woman, now an adult, described the severe mental health issues she faces as a consequence of Towner’s abuse. She suffers from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and has expressed a loss of trust in herself and others. Prosecutors highlighted that she has become accustomed to suppressing her emotions as a survival mechanism, which has left her emotionally numb and unable to experience positive feelings.

When the allegations first emerged, Towner responded with hostility, using abusive language to dismiss the claims and calling them “a load of f***ing b****cks,” court proceedings revealed. His defence lawyer, Lucy Tapper, argued that the offences were historical and had not been repeated since. She emphasized that Towner’s life had changed significantly since the incidents, describing him as a “family man” who now lives away from Swanage and has no recent convictions of a sexual nature.

However, Judge Zoe Smith was unequivocal in her remarks, describing the victim as a “particularly naive, young girl” at the time of the abuse. She pointed out that the emotional scars inflicted by Towner’s actions had contributed to the woman’s ongoing mental health struggles. The judge sentenced Towner to ten years in prison for the six counts of sexual abuse, a punishment that reflects the severity of his crimes.

As the sentence was read, Towner raised his head and exhaled deeply before being led away from the courtroom, his future now confined within the prison system. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Swanage and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding children from predators.