SEMI TUILOVONI LAVE FROM TIDWORTH JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN WILTSHIRE

A man from Wiltshire who assaulted two girls over several years has been sentenced to prison. Semi Tuilovoni Lave, aged 31 and residing in Tidworth, was convicted of six counts of child rape and one count of sexual touching of a child. The verdict was delivered after a four-day trial at Salisbury Crown Court, and on Thursday, February 3, he received a 15-year prison term.

The court heard that Lave's abuse came to light in July 2020 when his young victims courageously reported the incidents, leading to his subsequent arrest. Detective Constable Claire Heathcote of Wiltshire Police’s Public Protection Department commended the victims, stating, "We know how incredibly difficult it can be for victims of sexual abuse to tell someone about what has been happening to them, especially when the victims are children."

She added, "Once these girls took the very brave step of reporting these horrendous crimes, we worked hard to ensure they received the necessary support. This was especially important as they had to relive the abuse in court, since Lave refused to admit his actions."

Expressing her satisfaction with the verdict and sentence, she said, "We welcome the verdict in this case and today's sentence, which I hope provides some reassurance to the victims that justice has been served. I also hope it encourages others to speak out if they have experienced similar crimes. If you’re not yet ready to speak to police, just tell someone you trust. There is help available, and you don’t have to suffer in silence."