UPDATE: Now released and in living in Great Yarmouth September 2011 Police praise bravery of sex crimes victim POLICE have paid tribute to an “amazingly courageous” teenager who came forward and reported a man more than twice her age for having sex with her. As 39-year-old Shaun Gascoigne was locked up for four years, a police spokesman said of the victim: “She was faced with a very difficult decision and made the right choice to come forward and report the offences. “She has been amazingly courageous and should
 believe she has done the right thing. “No-one should have to go through what she went through. “We are pleased the courts have handed him a considerable prison term as the harm he has caused the victim is immeasurable.” Gascoigne, of Cathcart Street, Lowestoft, admitted five offences of unlawful sexual activity with the girl and was jailed for four years, less 181 days he has already spent in custody. He was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order restricting his contact with teenage girls. Sentencing Gascoigne, Judge John Devaux accepted he had been suffering from depression at the time of the offences, due to his wife’s ill health. He said that Gascoigne had no previous convictions and the sexual activity had ended before the offences came to light. He said Gascoigne had been more than twice the girl’s age and had sex with her on five occasions. Judge Devaux said the victim of the offences, who had already been experiencing emotional difficuties, had been profoundly affected by what he had done to her. Robert Sadd, prosecuting said that when Gascoigne had been questioned about having sex with the girl he had accused her of dressing provocatively and “getting him hot under the collar”. Andrew Thompson, for Gascoigne, said that at the time of the offences, he was acting as full-time carer for his wife who was wheelchair-bound. Gascoigne had also been suffering from depression
and he had believed the girl was consenting to what went on.