August 2015 Wiltshire Police plea for more victims of Thomas Bassett to contact them A DEVIZES man was sentenced to 20 years in prison today after being found guilty of 16 sexual offences, including rape. Thomas Bassett, 58, from Stockwell Road, was convicted of raping two women, a number of sexual assaults on children and one sexual assault on another woman at at Winchester Crown Court yesterday. Thomas McKenzie Bassett was also sentenced to 12 months in prison last year for making and distributing indecent images of children. After sentencing, DC Keith Harford, from Wiltshire Police, said: “We welcome today’s sentencing, following on from yesterday’s guilty verdict. “This is a positive result reflecting years of hard work for my officers in compiling enough evidence to convict this man. “Wiltshire Police would like to thank each of the victims for their bravery in coming forward and recounting what is obviously a very distressing and traumatic time in their lives. “The judge in this case, Judge Miller, said, in her summing up, ‘that Bassett was a devious, sexual predator who carried out repulsive and manipulative behaviour. It is likely that he has been offending the whole of his life.’ This accurately describes the man. “We are also not ruling out the possibility that there are more victims out there – if that is you or someone you know then please come forward. “You will be dealt with sensitively by one of our specially trained officers and I can assure you that any information you give will be treated in the utmost confidence and will be followed up. We are determined to catch anyone who carries out such crimes. “Anyone wishing to contact us can do so by calling 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.” September 2014 Devizes child abuse images pervert jailed A man from Devizes has been jailed for making and distributing indecent images of children. Thomas McKenzie Bassett was sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of a total of 12 offences at Salisbury Crown Court. The 57-year-old from Devizes was found guilty of nine offences of making indecent photographs of children, two counts of possession of extreme pornographic images and one count of possession of an indecent photograph of a child between November 2011 and November 2012. “Wiltshire Police treat every case involving the sexual exploitation of children extremely seriously,” said DC Keith Harford, from Melksham CID. “Bassett was convicted of making and distributing indecent images of children and we always felt that a jail sentence was the only option given the serious nature of the crime. “Anyone wishing to report a crime should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously,” he added.