STUART TOMEY JAILED IN BEDFORD FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST A CHILD

A Bedford man described as 'callous and selfish' has been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to engaging in sexual activity with a minor. Stuart Tomey, 36, carried out multiple sexual offences against a teenage girl between April and November 2020. He was detained by Bedfordshire Police in December following the victim’s decision to come forward and report his actions.

The teenage victim demonstrated remarkable bravery and shared a heartfelt victim statement, saying: 'The impact that this has had on me affects me every day. I really struggled with accepting that I was a victim and blamed myself for what happened, but as time has gone on I learned that this was not my fault.'

Tomey, residing on Rutland Road in Bedford, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child. On June 16, he was sentenced to 57 months for each charge, with the terms running concurrently. In addition, he received an extra three months for breaching bail conditions, summing up to a total of five years behind bars.

Detective Constable Rebecca Goodman of Bedfordshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People team, which led the investigation, commented: 'Tomey’s selfish and callous offending has resulted in him receiving a lengthy prison sentence.' She emphasized the force’s commitment to tackling sexual offences, especially those involving children, stating: 'Our force takes reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and we are dedicated to protecting vulnerable people in our county.'

Goodman also highlighted the importance of victims coming forward, saying: 'This comes after a second court case concluded this month resulting in a lengthy prison sentence for child sex offences. Hopefully this will encourage further victims of such offences to come forward, no matter when it happened. We will believe you and investigate your report, and we will work with our partner agencies to find the right support for you.'

Bedfordshire Police’s statement added that victims of rape and sexual assault are offered support and guidance through the police, including assistance from the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), as well as ongoing support through the criminal justice process.