GEORGE LEWIS FROM WALDRINGFIELD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST SCHOOLGIRLS IN IPSWICH

In May 2022, a man named Geoffrey Lewis, formerly residing in Waldringfield, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving young schoolgirls. The case, heard at Ipswich Crown Court, revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning over four years, from 2013 to 2017, during which Lewis targeted three young victims.

Lewis, aged 53 at the time of sentencing, had previously denied four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, one count of engaging in sexual activity with a child, and taking an indecent image of a child. However, during his trial in February, he changed his pleas to guilty on all charges. The court was informed that his offenses included inappropriate touching, photographing the victims without their consent, and making lewd comments.

During the sentencing hearing, which took place on Monday, May 30, Lewis appeared via a prison video link. At one point, he seemed to faint while a victim impact statement was being read aloud, prompting a brief adjournment so he could be attended to by medical staff. The court heard that Lewis had been living at Briton Way, Wymondham, at the time of his sentencing.

Judge Emma Peters sentenced Lewis to nine years in prison, with an extended license period of five additional years. She also imposed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the duration of his life. Furthermore, Lewis was banned from contacting the three victims indefinitely. The judge emphasized that Lewis was a “danger to children” and stated that he would need to serve at least six years before the parole board could consider whether it was safe to release him.

During the proceedings, a father of one of the victims issued a strong statement condemning Lewis’s actions. He criticized Lewis for his “lack of courage, moral integrity, and remorse,” and expressed outrage that Lewis only admitted guilt after the victims had given evidence in court.

The court detailed the nature of Lewis’s abuse, which included touching the girls on their breasts and inside their underwear, as well as taking explicit photographs without their knowledge. One victim, aged 14, was told she was “beautiful” by Lewis, who also put his hand inside her underwear. He had also touched her breasts while she was playing a computer game, and on another occasion, he touched her bottom and between her legs over her clothing while seemingly filming the acts.

Additionally, Lewis was found to have sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl by attempting to put his hand inside her underwear. The court described his actions as deeply invasive and harmful, highlighting the serious breach of trust and safety involved in these offenses.