KEVIN TRETHEWEY SENTENCED IN ST AUSTELL FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON GIRL UNDER 13

In May 2013, a man from St Austell named Kevin Trethewey was handed a significant prison sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl under the age of 13. The court proceedings revealed that Trethewey, aged 25 at the time, had pleaded guilty to four separate charges related to his inappropriate conduct towards the minor. These incidents occurred on two different occasions, with the most recent taking place in October of the previous year.

During the trial, it was clarified that Trethewey did not contest one particular charge of raping the girl; this charge was ultimately dropped due to a lack of sufficient evidence to support such a claim. The court heard that during the last incident, Trethewey was under the influence of alcohol, which appeared to impair his judgment. Following this event, he inflicted cuts on his face using a razor blade, indicating a possible state of distress or remorse.

In police interviews, Trethewey expressed feelings of disgust and shame about his actions. He admitted to being 'sickened' by what he had done and claimed that he was driven by his own needs, which he described as a compulsive or uncontrollable urge. He also stated that he 'hates himself' for his conduct, revealing a level of self-awareness and remorse.

The court also heard from the girl’s mother, who disclosed that she suffers from recurring dreams in which the assault happens again, highlighting the lasting psychological impact of the trauma on the family.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, addressed the court and described the case as 'deeply distressing.' He emphasized the difficulty in understanding how someone could be sexually aroused by a young child, but acknowledged that Trethewey’s actions demonstrated such arousal. The judge noted that while Trethewey might be deeply ashamed of his conduct, the potential long-term effects on the victim remain uncertain. He expressed concern about the psychological scars that often persist long after the abuse, which can significantly influence the victim’s life.

Judge Clark concluded by sentencing Trethewey to four years in prison. Additionally, he imposed a ten-year sexual offences prevention order and mandated that Trethewey register as a sex offender for an indefinite period, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.