September 2015 Pervert jailed for 10 years for sexual offences on young girls A NEWQUAY man, who committed “truly offensive and disgusting” sexual offences with two young girls, has been jailed for ten years. Thomas Child was found guilty of having sex with one underage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and sexually assaulting a second after a trial at Truro Crown Court. Child, 40, of Taylors Lane, was spoken to by the police after the girl told a friend what had happened. The court heard how she revealed that she had been raped the night before by Child and that he had sex with her on a number of occasions. “He was having his way with her,” said prosecutor Gareth Evans during the trial. “He was using her for sexual gratification.” On Friday, the court heard that the girl had provided police with a victim impact statement detailing how the offences had affected her. She said that she had lost trust in people and had had difficulties at school. She said Child’s actions “had made her into a different person from what she wanted to be”. Allegations that Child had touched a second girl inappropriately came to light after the first girl’s interview. That girl also told officers that the incident had affected her school work and her family life, the court heard. Child, who originally faced nine counts of rape in relation to the first victim and one of sexually assaulting the second, denied all of the charges. The indictment was changed during the trial to add alternative counts of sexual activity with a child in relation to some of the rape charges. He was found not guilty of all of the rapes but convicted of seven counts of sexual activity with a child. Child was also convicted of sexually assaulting the second girl. The offences took place between 2008 and 2014. Rupert Taylor, for the defence, said there was no suggestion that Child had used force, violence or any verbal coercion to commit the offences. He said his client continued to deny the charges despite the jury’s conviction. Sentencing, Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, said a number of members of Child’s family and friends had written references for the court describing him as a kind, decent and trustworthy man. But, he said: “Ordinary people looking at this case would say that your behaviour was truly offensive and disgusting.” Child was sentenced to a total of 10 years imprisonment August 2015 Newquay man found guilty of child sex offences A NEWQUAY man has been found guilty of sexual offences against two young girls. Thomas Child went on trial at Truro Crown Court accused of raping one girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and sexually assaulting a second. Child, 40, of Taylors Lane, was spoken to by the police after the girl told a friend what had happened. Gareth Evans, for the prosecution, said she spoke to her friend and said she had been raped the night before, after being asked if she was OK. This led to her telling an adult and the police being informed. Mr Evans said in a subsequent video interview with officers, the girl said Child had sex with her on a number of occasions. “He was having his way with her,” “He was using her for sexual gratification,” said Mr Evans. In the interview, which was played in court, the girl said of revealing the offences to her friend: “I think [I told her] because someone asked why I was upset. “Normally no one asks why I am upset. “I think because she asked and she was concerned about me.” Allegations that Child had touched a second girl inappropriately came to light after the first girl’s interview. He denied all of the offences. Child originally faced nine counts of rape in relation to the first victim and one of sexually assaulting the second. The indictment was changed during the trial to add alternative counts of sexual activity with a child in relation to some of the rape charges. He was found not guilty of all of the rapes but convicted of five counts of sexual activity with a child. Child was also convicted of sexually assaulting the second girl. The offences took place between 2008 and 2014. Child was granted conditional bail to appear before the court for sentence on August 24 following the preparation of a pre-sentence report.