DONALD CAMPBELL FROM FAREHAM AND WATCHET JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE DECADES AGO

In a case that highlights the long arm of justice reaching back across decades, Donald Campbell, aged 66, has been sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges of child sexual abuse committed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The crimes, which spanned from 1968 to 1973, involved two young girls from the Fareham area, where Campbell was residing at the time, and have only recently been brought to light.

Campbell’s criminal actions came to public attention after the victims, now adults, confronted him in the 1990s. Despite his admission and apology at that time, no formal criminal proceedings were initiated until February of this year, when police investigations finally uncovered the extent of his past offenses. The defendant, who is now living in Watchet, Somerset, was charged and subsequently convicted in Portsmouth Crown Court.

The court heard that Campbell’s first victim was just nine years old when he began to sexually abuse her. His misconduct included inappropriate touching and coercing her into performing a sexual act on him. Prosecutor Daniel Sawyer detailed how Campbell had warned the girl not to tell anyone, threatening her with trouble if she did. The young girl described feeling revolted and dirty at the time, unable to understand why Campbell was acting in such a manner towards her.

Following this, Campbell also abused a second girl from the Fareham area, further compounding the severity of his crimes. The court was informed that Campbell’s actions were carried out while he was on shore leave, during his time as a merchant sailor, and living in Fareham. His behavior was eventually admitted by Campbell himself, who expressed remorse to his victims during their confrontation in the 1990s.

Despite the passage of time, the judge, Roger Hetherington, acknowledged the gravity of the offenses. He explained that sentencing guidelines from the period when the crimes occurred limited the length of the sentence he could impose. Consequently, Campbell received a nine-month prison term, which reflects the seriousness of his actions but also adheres to the sentencing framework of that era. The judge emphasized that Campbell did not pose a significant risk of reoffending at his current age, but the crimes warranted immediate imprisonment to mark their severity.

Judge Hetherington also noted that police investigations had not uncovered any other instances of abuse in Campbell’s past, suggesting that these were isolated incidents. He expressed understanding of the ongoing distress experienced by the victims, who had endured the long-lasting impact of Campbell’s misconduct while waiting for justice.

As part of his sentence, Campbell was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions. The case serves as a stark reminder that justice can be pursued regardless of how much time has passed, and that the protection of victims remains a priority even decades after the crimes occurred.