February 2015 Man who sexually abused a young child in Cumbria has been jailed for seven and a half years Toby Fursdon, 39, of Thorney, Newark, Nottinghamshire, was sentenced today at Bolton Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to eight charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child at an earlier hearing. He has also been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register. The majority of the offences took place in the Wigton area, starting when the girl was just 13 years old. Detective Constable Mark Cox, the investigating officer, said: “Fursdon’s crimes have had a long-lasting effect on the victim. “The victim has shown a great deal of bravery in reporting the abuse, and I hope following yesterday’s sentence that both her and her family can begin to move on with their lives. ““I would urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report it, even if it happened years ago – it’s never too late. “Sexual abuse and exploitation of children is not tolerated in Cumbria, and every report is investigated sensitively and professionally. “We are committed to bringing those responsible for sexual abuse to justice.” January 2015 Cumbrian man pleads guilty to eight charges of molesting a 13 year old schoolgirl Toby Fursdon, 39, admitted the offences at Carlisle Crown Court on the day that he was due to face a trial on 10 abuse allegations. He admitted eight counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, starting when the girl was just 13. Few details of the offences were outlined in court but all happened in a rural community south of Wigton. Prosecuting barrister Tim Evans told the court that it would not be in the public interest to have a trial about the two most recent and similar allegations against Fursdon, who is now living at an address in Thorney, Newark, Nottinghamshire. Those two allegations denied by the defendant are to be allowed to lie on file. Adjourning sentence until February 24 so that background reports can be prepared, Judge Peter Davies told the defendant: “I am going to grant you bail but you must not conclude from that you are going to receive a non-custodial sentence. “You doubtless understand the serious position you are now in and almost inevitably the sentence will be a form of custody.” The judge said that Fursdon must have no contact whatsoever with the victim in the case nor any of the prosecution witnesses. Nor must he have any unsupervised contact with any girl aged under 16. In the meantime, Fursdon must sign the Sex Offenders’s Register. The period of time his name will remain on the Register will be determined by his sentence. He will be sentenced by Judge Davies at Bolton Crown Court. At that time, the court will hear read aloud a statement from the victim, explaining the impact of the abuse on her since it happened.