March 1998 Jail for man who assaulted child A homosexual man who indecently assaulted the nine year old boy of a family he befriended was jailed for 18 months yesterday. David Rogers, was found guilty of assaulting the Pinner youngster four times between June and August 1996. The 39-year-old persuaded the boy to carry out indecent sex acts on him in the sofa bed he used at the family home. Rogers from Combermere Road, Brixton, admitted he had slept naked in the bed with the boy but denied assaulting him. Judge Myrella Cohen said: “He was already a problem child and what you did was totally, totally, inexcusable. No none will condemn you these days for your homosexual orientation providing your partner is a man of mature age, a consenting adult, not a nine-year-old boy. “There was no suggestion you threatened him or used violence against him. There were some occasions when the boy came quite voluntarily into your room and into your bed but there were other occasions when he awoke to find himself in your bed.” Rogers was sentenced to two years jail for two of the assaults and three years for two more serious incidents. The sentences will run concurrently and half the sentence has been suspended, during which time he will be under close police supervision. After his release his name will go on a police register of sexual offenders. After the sentencing Judge Cohen said: “I was very concerned about the boy and the family. The family knew he Rogers had homosexual tendencies but let the boy sleep with him.” Tracey Torbet of the police Harrow child protection team said: “We are pleased he has recieved a custodial sentence and hope that will give some comfort to the victim and his family.”