October 2020 Pervert locked up for sex assault on schoolboy at Trowbridge party A convicted sex offender brazenly alleged his victim was “a complete liar” as he was jailed for three years and nine months. Steven Gardner had earlier admitted sexually assaulting the then 13-year-old boy at a party in Trowbridge last year. The 43-year-old, who was jailed for 18 months in 2006 for sexually assaulting a woman, pleaded guilty to the sex assault charge on the day of his trial in August  Prosecutor Ian Fenny told Swindon Crown Court Gardner had attended a party in Trowbridge in 2019. His victim was also at the party with his mother. The party had largely come to an end and most of the adults had gone to bed. Gardner was said to have gone through to the kitchen and offered the boy a cigarette and cider. The youngster had pretended to drink some of the alcohol. Back in the living room, Gardner had tried to kiss and cuddle the boy. Mr Fenny said the man “took advantage of the situation” and exposed himself to the child. The boy managed to bend back his attacker’s finger and get free before claiming he needed to use the lavatory. The boy alerted the party’s hostess to what had happened. Gardner was asked to leave the house and was still outside the front door when the police arrived. He was interviewed later and denied wrongdoing. In two victim statements – described as brave by the judge – the boy said he was sad but pleased it had happened to him and not a younger child who would not have known what to do. “Steve knew what he was trying to do,” the boy said. His mother said the investigation and prospect of giving evidence at the trial had increased her anxiety. She wrote: “I’m so proud of my son. He has been so brave throughout.” Gardner, of Summerleaze, Trowbridge, admitted sexual assault. Sentencing Gardner for three years and nine months, Judge Peter Crabtree also imposed a lifetime restraining order banning him from contacting his victim or the boy’s mum. A sexual harm prevention order prevents him from having unsupervised contact with under-16s unless their parents are aware of his conviction. And he must sign onto the sex offenders’ register for life. The attempted rape charge was ordered to lie on Gardner’s file. As the hearing finished Gardner shouted out that his victim was “a complete liar”.