HASTINGS MAN TERRANCE WILMER SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN HASTINGS

In July 2017, Terrence Wilmer, a 57-year-old man from Hastings, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexual offences involving two young girls. Wilmer, who was unemployed and residing on Emmanuel Road in Hastings, appeared in custody at Lewes Crown Court on June 28, where he received his sentencing. He was convicted on February 22 of committing seven sexual offences against two girls.

Wilmer’s criminal history includes offences reported as far back as 2004, when a girl he raped was between four and seven years old. However, the Crown Prosecution Service initially decided there was not enough Evidence to proceed with a prosecution at that time.

The offences occurred in both Robertsbridge, where Wilmer once lived, and later at his Hastings residence, according to police reports. In the 1990s, Wilmer assaulted a girl under the age of 10 four times — these included four indecent assaults and one count of rape. For the rape conviction, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison plus an additional five years on extended licence.

He received an eight-year sentence for each of the indecent assault charges, with these sentences to run concurrently with each other and with the rape sentence. Additionally, Wilmer was convicted of two more sexual assaults against a second girl, who was under 12 years old, with these crimes taking place approximately ten years after the initial offences. He received eight-year terms for each of these charges, to run concurrently with each other and with his existing sentences. Wilmer was also found not guilty of one sexual assault against the second girl.

As part of his sentence, Wilmer will be required to register as a sex offender for life and was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which remains in effect until further court notice. The order significantly restricts his access to children, aiming to prevent further offences.