2010: NORWICH PRISON GUARD ROGER HAYWARD JAILED FOR SEX ASSAULT OF GIRL
A former Norwich prison guard who sexually assaulted a 12 year old girl and then took indecent photos of her on his mobile phone was yesterday jailed for two years and three months.Norwich Crown Court heard that Roger Hayward, 53, had then transferred the photos he took of the girl on to his computer.
Nick Methold, prosecuting, said the abuse came to light when the girl's family noticed a complete change in her behaviour and she then confided that she had been sexually assaulted by Hayward.
He said the girl had suffered a great deal of distress and felt 'shocked and frightened' by what happened.
Hayward of Honey Close, off Plumstead Road, Norwich, admitted three offences of sexually assaulting the girl and three of making indecent photos of her.
Jailing him for two years and three months and placing him on the Sex Offenders register for 10 years Judge Paul Downes said that the victim was very young and by taking photographs of her he had 'aggravated' the situation.
He also banned Hayward from ever working with children.
Guy Ayers, for Hayward, said that by pleading guilty he had saved the victim an ordeal: 'There was never any prospect of her having to come to court to give evidence'.
He said the case had completely destroyed Hayward's life and he had been immediately dismissed from his job.
'This has destroyed everything he has worked for and lived for.
He lost his job immediately on entering his guilty pleas.' He said Hayward's wife suffered from ill health and he had an elderly mother he helped care for.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Roger Hayward was an operational support grade at HMP Norwich.
'His employment with the Prison Service was officially terminated on 10 May 2010 following his earlier suspension on 22 July 2009.'
