SWINDON MAN JAILED FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULTS

A man has been jailed for 15 years for historic sexual assaults on children aged as young as eight. Stephen Burrows, also known as Marc, 47, of Fitkin Court, Redhouse, Swindon, Wiltshire, was convicted of multiple sexual offences after a trial held in August. The charges include two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, assault by penetration, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday. Burrows committed his offences over a span of 13 years, from 1999 to 2012, taking advantage of his victims while staying in their homes.When Burrows was in his 20s, he assaulted his first victim, a girl aged between eight and ten, when she got up for a drink during the early hours. He also assaulted a second victim twice when she was between ten and twelve years old.'My whole life was taken' One of the victims read a statement in court, saying: “It shouldn’t need to be said, but no child should have to go through what I did. I feel like my whole life was taken from me at that moment when this adult decided to do what he did to me as a child. I feel that the man who did this to me should get what he deserves – the passage of time doesn’t change anything for me and I feel as strongly as I did the day it happened.”'He's taken my self worth' Another victim said: “Mark’s decision all those years ago has affected my life in many ways. He didn’t just take my childhood, but he has impacted my relationship with others. He’s taken my self worth, confidence, and made me feel incapable of being loved.” Det Sgt Chris Hughes stated that Burrows manipulated these young girls when they were children. The victims, as adults, found the courage to report the abuse to police later. Detective Sergeant Hughes praised their bravery and emphasized that it is never too late to report child sexual abuse, encouraging anyone who was abused to come forward.