DARREN SIMS FROM TEWKESBURY SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF GIRL UNDER 10 IN GLOUCESTER

In a case that has shocked the community of Tewkesbury and the wider Gloucestershire area, Darren Sims, a 41-year-old man, was sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison after being found guilty of heinous sexual offenses involving a girl under the age of 10. The conviction was handed down at Gloucester Crown Court following a detailed and emotionally charged trial that lasted for a week.

During the proceedings, Sims, who resides in Tewkesbury, vehemently denied the allegations, including the charge of attempting to rape the young girl. He also faced three additional counts of sexual offenses against the same victim. Despite his denials, the jury, composed of six men and six women, deliberated thoroughly and ultimately convicted Sims on all four counts.

Judge Michael Cullum, presiding over the case, sentenced Sims to 12 years of imprisonment, with an additional year of extended licence. The judge described Sims as 'an offender of concern' under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, indicating that Sims would serve at least half of his custodial sentence, with the possibility of serving the entire term depending on the parole board’s assessment.

Addressing the court, Judge Cullum expressed profound concern over the impact of Sims’ actions, stating, “You caused immeasurable harm to that girl.” He highlighted that the offenses occurred on at least three separate occasions, emphasizing the severity and repeated nature of the crimes.

The court also considered a victim impact statement submitted by the girl’s mother, which detailed the ongoing trauma experienced by her daughter. The statement described the girl’s suffering, including episodes of self-harm, head-banging, biting, and scratching herself to the point of bleeding. It was noted that her academic performance had declined significantly, and she was now receiving specialized pastoral support and care to cope with her ordeal.

In addition to the prison sentence, Sims was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, effectively barring him from working with children for the rest of his life. He was also subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which remains in effect until further notice.

At the time of his arrest, Sims maintained his innocence, denying all allegations. Prosecutor Giles Nelson pointed out that Sims had a prior caution in 2008 for downloading images of child abuse, which added context to the case. During the trial, Sims insisted that he had not engaged in any sexual contact with the girl, but the jury rejected his account and found him guilty.

Following the verdict, Sims’ defense lawyer, Sarah Jenkins, expressed her views, stating, “There is very little I can say. This is his first period in custody. On the face of it, he has been a hard-working man. He will be living with the consequences for a long time, so all I ask is you are as lenient as you can be with sentence.”

Judge Cullum concluded the sentencing by reiterating that Sims would serve at least half of his 12-year sentence, with the possibility of serving the entire term, depending on the parole board’s decision, underscoring the gravity of the crimes committed in Tewkesbury and Gloucester.