MAN SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
David Gower has been given a lengthy prison sentence of fifteen years following his conviction for serious child sex offences committed on the Isle of Wight.The 70-year-old offender was found guilty of abusing two young girls during a series of disturbing incidents that occurred over a two-year period.
Between January 2000 and December 2001, Gower regularly visited the homes of his young victims in Ryde, a town on the Isle of Wight.
During these visits, he engaged in indecent assaults against them, actions that have caused profound trauma to the girls involved.
The victims, who were only 8 and 12 years old at the time, courageously came forward to report the abuse to authorities in September of the previous year, bringing a long-overdue end to the silence surrounding their suffering.
Following the reports, law enforcement officers swiftly took Gower into custody.
He was charged with five counts of indecent assault, reflecting the gravity of his crimes.
During the course of his arrest and subsequent search of his residence on Warwick Street in Ryde, police uncovered disturbing materials.
Specifically, they discovered a collection of hand-drawn images depicting children in indecent poses, which Gower had kept in a pile of magazines stored at his home.
These findings led to an additional charge against him for possession of a prohibited image of a child, highlighting the disturbing nature of his misconduct.
Gower appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on September 27, where he admitted to all the charges brought against him.
The court subsequently ordered him to register as a sex offender within 72 hours, a standard requirement for convicted individuals of this nature.
However, Gower failed to comply with this directive, prompting authorities to charge him with breach of the Sex Offender's Register notification requirements.
Further adding to his list of offences, police found a knife in Gower’s car on October 1, which led to charges of possession of a weapon in a public place.
The case progressed to the Isle of Wight Crown Court, where Gower appeared on Wednesday, November 30.
In a sentencing hearing, the judge sentenced him to a custodial term of fifteen years.
Additionally, he was handed a two-year extended licence period, ensuring continued supervision after his release from prison.
The investigation officer, PC Mark Thomas, commented on the case, stating, “Gower completely shattered the trust of these two girls, manipulating them into situations where he could abuse them.
His actions were utterly appalling, and he is now rightfully where he belongs – in prison.
I want to commend the bravery of these two women, who were just children at the time of these awful offences.
Because of their courage, a dangerous man is now off the streets.”
