PAULO COLOMBO, THE SEXUAL PREDATOR FROM SWINDON, SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN JAIL
In a case that has shocked the local community of Swindon, Paulo Colombo, a 19-year-old man from Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill, has been sentenced to four years in prison for his disturbing pattern of predatory behavior towards underage girls.The court heard how Colombo targeted vulnerable young girls, some as young as 10 years old, through online messaging platforms before arranging to meet them in person.
Colombo, who was also involved in drug dealing, used his charm and manipulative tactics to persuade these girls to engage in sexual activities.
He presented himself as a romantic figure, often referred to as a 'Romeo,' to lure his victims.
One particularly alarming incident involved a 14-year-old girl, whom he told she would never see him again if she did not lose her virginity to him in a park while she was on her way to school one morning.
Initially, Colombo claimed he was unaware that his actions were wrong, asserting that he had only recently arrived in the United Kingdom from Brazil.
Despite police warnings about his inappropriate conduct, he continued his pursuit of underage girls, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law and their safety.
His criminal activities extended beyond the grooming and sexual offenses.
Colombo had previously served a six-month jail term while on remand after being convicted of dealing cannabis and an ecstasy substitute drug from his Swindon flat.
His first encounter with the police dates back to October 2009, when he met a 10-year-old girl at a playground in the Parks area and engaged in indecent touching.
Following this incident, he was released on bail but was warned about the legal consequences of his actions.
As he approached his 18th birthday in the summer of 2010, Colombo began a disturbing pattern of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, which involved coercion and manipulation.
He also pursued another 15-year-old girl, persuading her to have sex with him, and engaged in a campaign of grooming a 14-year-old girl through internet messaging.
During their interactions, he made her feel guilty for resisting him and threatened to cut off contact if she did not comply.
The court heard that Colombo's predatory behavior extended to having sex with a girl over 16 at his sister’s flat in Chippenham, where he also recorded the act on his mobile phone.
The most troubling incident involved Colombo having sex with a teenage girl in his Swindon flat in front of her 12-year-old friend, highlighting the extent of his reckless and dangerous conduct.
Colombo faced multiple charges, including nine counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of sexual activity in the presence of a minor, and one count of making an indecent image of a child.
During the trial, he initially denied the charges but later admitted to two counts of sexual activity.
The jury convicted him of all remaining charges.
Defense lawyer Marcus Davey described Colombo as an immature young man, suggesting that his actions were those of a naive teenager rather than a calculated predator.
However, Judge Euan Ambrose was unequivocal in his assessment, stating, “It is clear to me that you find post-pubescent girls sexually attractive.
You also find them to be impressionable, easily manipulated, easily persuaded and pressured by you into sexual activity which they had initially not wanted but which they were persuaded by you to engage in.” Judge Ambrose emphasized the severity of Colombo’s actions, labeling him a sexual predator and condemning his manipulative tactics.
As part of his sentence, Colombo will be on license for an additional year after his release, required to register as a sex offender for life, and banned from working with children.
Furthermore, he is subject to a sexual offences prevention order that restricts his contact with underage girls for the next ten years, reflecting the court’s concern for public safety and the protection of vulnerable minors.
