WILLIAM LANDY FROM BASINGSTOKE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a distressing case that has shocked the community of Basingstoke, William Landy, a 49-year-old man, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl. The conviction was handed down at Winchester Crown Court, where Landy was visibly emotional, crying from the dock as he received a sentence of four and a half years behind bars.

Prior to his arrest and trial, Landy, who was previously residing on Quilter Road in Basingstoke, was accused of engaging in sexual misconduct involving a young girl. The jury deliberated during a trial held at Winchester Crown Court this week, ultimately convicting him of two serious charges: assaulting a child by penetration and sexually touching a minor.

The court proceedings revealed that Landy had exploited the trust of the victim’s family to gain access to the young girl. It was established that he had a period of grooming, which culminated in an incident of abuse. The victim’s family was unaware of the abuse until she confided in them in 2018, revealing that she had been suffering in silence because she believed no one would believe her. Her reluctance to speak out earlier was compounded by her perception of her own behavior at the time, which she described as badly behaved.

During the trial, the court heard that the abuse was not an isolated event. In the weeks following the assault, Landy attempted to manipulate the situation by contacting social services, falsely claiming that the victim had exposed herself to him. This attempt to distort the truth was viewed unfavorably by the court.

In her victim impact statement, the young girl expressed how profoundly the incident had affected her life. Judge Jane Miller QC noted that the girl felt “the whole incident changed her whole life,” and added that she had “stopped being a happy person and she withdrew into a hole.” The emotional toll of reliving her trauma was evident during the court proceedings, especially as she was made to recount her experience on video.

Judge Miller addressed the court and the defendant during sentencing, remarking that Landy’s attempt to “get his story in first” was an attempt to manipulate the situation. She also acknowledged the distress the victim experienced during the process, particularly when her account was challenged in court. Ultimately, Landy was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, with an additional year on license following his release, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the impact on the young victim.