FRANCIS KELLY FROM PARK SOUTH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING TEENAGER IN SWINDON

In a case that has shocked the local community, 48-year-old Francis Kelly, a resident of Blandford Court in Park South, was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in unlawful sexual activities with a teenage girl he was entrusted to care for as a babysitter.

The incident came to light in February 2003 when the girl’s mother noticed her daughter had an unusually large amount of pocket money, which raised suspicions. A family friend also observed Kelly and the girl sharing a kiss in what was deemed an inappropriate manner. These observations prompted the mother to question her daughter, leading to a series of disclosures about the inappropriate conduct that had taken place.

According to the prosecution, led by Colin Meeke, the abuse occurred during nights when the girl’s mother and her husband were working late shifts. Kelly, who was responsible for looking after the girl during these times, exploited his position of trust. The court was told that the misconduct began shortly after the girl’s 14th birthday, although specific details of the abuse were not disclosed during the proceedings.

When Kelly was apprehended and questioned by police, he admitted to knowing the girl’s age and confessed to having engaged in sexual intercourse with her. He faced multiple charges, including three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, three counts of gross indecency, and an additional seven counts of gross indecency, which the court considered in their sentencing.

During the trial, Kelly’s defense attorney, Robin Shellard, acknowledged his client’s wrongdoing and accepted that a prison sentence was inevitable. Shellard emphasized that Kelly had always admitted his guilt and expressed genuine remorse for his actions. He also highlighted Kelly’s otherwise clean criminal record, noting a caution received in 2000, and described him as a man who had led an industrious and seemingly innocent life for 48 years.

Shellard further stated that Kelly, who has a family of his own, was a limited individual who struggled to express himself fully. He urged the court to recognize that the relationship between an adult and a minor can never be consensual and that Kelly’s actions were a grave breach of trust.

Judge John McNaught, presiding over the case, emphasized the importance of protecting young girls from exploitation. He sentenced Kelly to three years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, underscoring the severity of the offense and the need for ongoing public safety measures.