RICHARD FLOWER SENTENCED IN WESTBURY FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST YOUNG GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Westbury, Richard Flower, a 43-year-old man from Danvers Way, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offences involving a young girl. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned several years, beginning when the girl was just 11 years old.

Flower faced a total of eight charges related to indecent assault, with the allegations dating back to when the victim was only nine. However, after a rigorous four-day trial held at Swindon Crown Court earlier this year, the jury found him guilty of six of these charges. The court acquitted him of the two earliest counts, which involved incidents when the girl was nine and ten years old.

The court heard harrowing details about the impact of the abuse on the victim, who is now in her late teens. It was disclosed that the trauma she endured was so severe that she attempted to take her own life, highlighting the profound psychological scars inflicted by Flower’s actions.

During the trial, the defense argued that despite a probation report categorizing Flower as a medium risk, they believed he was actually a low risk to reoffend. The defense team, led by Michael Butt, criticized the assessment process, describing it as 'fatuous' and 'a cheap system' that lacked input from mental health professionals such as psychiatrists or psychologists. Butt emphasized that Flower continued to deny the allegations, which he claimed should have been considered in the risk evaluation.

Furthermore, the defense highlighted that Flower’s personal circumstances had deteriorated following his arrest. His wife, upon discovering his legal troubles, chose to leave him, leaving him without the emotional support he relied upon. This personal setback was presented as part of the context surrounding his character and risk assessment.

In delivering the sentence, Recorder George Leggatt QC expressed his condemnation of Flower’s actions. He stated, “You were found guilty by the jury of six charges of indecent assault conducted over four-and-a-half years from when she was 11 to 15 years old. It was made worse by the deep distress this caused her, driving her to attempt to commit suicide.”

As well as the prison sentence, Flower was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, a measure intended to monitor and prevent any potential future offences. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Westbury, raising awareness about the importance of protecting vulnerable children from abuse and ensuring justice is served for victims.