JAMES DEWAR FROM DONCASTER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST 8-YEAR-OLD BOY
In a case that has shocked the community of Doncaster, James Dewar, a 23-year-old man from Cherry Grove, New Rossington, was convicted of serious sexual offences involving an eight-year-old boy.The incident, which took place in Doncaster, involved Dewar engaging in disturbing acts of a sexual nature in front of the young victim and attempting to induce the child to participate in sexual activity.
According to court reports, Dewar masturbated in front of the boy, touched the child's genitals through his clothing, and then tried to persuade the young boy to touch his own genitals while he was naked.
The child, demonstrating commendable restraint and sensibility, refused Dewar's inappropriate advances.
The case was brought to light after the child's mother provided a statement describing the ongoing impact of the trauma on her son.
Prosecutor Richard Sheldon read the mother's statement during the hearing at Sheffield Crown Court, revealing that, 18 months after the incident on July 28, 2018, her son continues to exhibit troubling behaviors.
She expressed concern that her son has developed a fear of the dark, now takes his teddy bears to bed, and sleeps with a toy gun under his pillow—behaviors he had previously abandoned.
The mother’s worries extend to his future as a teenager, fearing that as he matures and gains a better understanding of what happened, the emotional scars may deepen.
James Dewar was charged with multiple serious offences, including inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity with a child, and attempting to have sexual activity with a child.
Despite denying all charges, Dewar was found guilty by a jury on December 6 of the previous year.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Sarah Wright expressed her dismay at Dewar's denial of the crimes, emphasizing the strength of the evidence against him.
She criticized Dewar's mother for her inability to help her son confront the truth.
The judge remarked, “What’s most concerning is that you deny these offences, despite overwhelming and cogent evidence.
I find it astonishing that your mother can’t assist you in facing up to what you have done.” While noting that Dewar, as an adult, would face imprisonment, Judge Wright acknowledged that the probation service believed there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” despite his denials.
Dewar was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete ten days of rehabilitation and participate in a sex offender treatment program.
Additionally, he was subjected to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children, aiming to protect the community from any further harm.
