GORDON RENAUT SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR ABUSING YOUNG GIRLS IN HYTHE AND SOUTHAMPTON

A pensioner named Gordon Renaut has been sentenced to serve eight years in prison after being found guilty of abusing two young girls. The crimes he committed have shocked the community and prompted widespread condemnation. The incident was brought to light during a hearing at Southampton Crown Court, where judges condemned Renaut’s actions as a severe breach of trust.

Renaut, who is 83 years old and resides on Alexandra Road in Hythe, faced a total of 12 charges linked to the abuse of the two victims, both of whom remain unnamed due to legal restrictions. During the court proceedings, Renaut pleaded guilty to six of these charges. The charges he admitted to include four counts of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13, one charge of inciting or encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity, and another relating to engaging in sexual acts in the presence of a child.

The offences came to light after a revelation from one of the victims, a younger girl, whose mother was conducting a lesson about inappropriate adult contact. The young girl confided that Renaut had touched her inappropriately, which led her mother to confront Renaut directly. As a result of this confrontation, further details about the abuse involving the other victim emerged. The court and prosecution emphasized that these acts represented a serious abuse of the trust placed in Renaut, particularly given the significant age difference between him and his victims, as well as the vulnerability of the young girls.

A poignant victim impact statement was read out by the older girl, who described feeling a loss of confidence, experiencing emotional distress, and struggling with trust issues since the abuse. She expressed feelings of guilt and despair, revealing that she sometimes feels she does not want to continue living. The younger girl's statement was not provided in full, as she was deemed too young to complete one of her own.

Prosecutor Gemma White outlined that these crimes had been uncovered through careful discussions between the Crown Prosecution Service and Renaut’s legal team prior to his admission of guilt on six counts. The remaining charges were left on file and are not pursued further.

Defence lawyer Fern Russell described Renaut as a man of previously good character. She provided references from friends who described him as kind, helpful, and caring. Russell explained that Renaut, who has been married for two decades and has lived continuously at the same address in Hythe at his parents’ home since 1948, had retired at age 60 after a career in the shipping and construction sectors. His work involved maintaining pipeline integrity. She also highlighted his ongoing health problems, including kidney disease, high blood pressure, and his need for cataract surgery and heart scans.

Russell emphasized that the offences were grave anomalies in what was otherwise a responsible and supportive life, stressing that her client is a man who had contributed positively to society.

Judge Nicholas Rowland delivered the sentence, condemning the seriousness of Renaut’s conduct. He stated that the crimes represented a gross breach of trust and had a profound impact on the victims, especially the younger girl. As well as the prison term, Renaut will be required to register as a sex offender for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for a duration of ten years.

During the sentencing hearing, Renaut’s wife was visibly distressed and left the courtroom. Court staff reportedly called an ambulance, but it was stood down as it was determined that no immediate medical assistance was necessary.