WILLIAM MITCHESON INDICTED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES IN QUEDGELEY NEAR GLOUCESTER

In December 2020, William Mitcheson, a 31-year-old resident of Quedgeley near Gloucester, faced serious allegations related to his past conduct involving a young girl. The charges stemmed from incidents that occurred nearly twenty years prior, when Mitcheson was only 13 years old. These allegations came to light after the victim, during a counselling session, disclosed details of what was described as 'non-recent sexual abuse.'

Following this disclosure, the counsellor reported the matter to the police, prompting an investigation into the claims. During police interviews, Mitcheson admitted to having inappropriately touched the girl on four separate occasions when he was a young teenager. The court heard that these incidents took place while he was living in County Durham, far from his current residence in Quedgeley.

Emma Dowling, the prosecutor, explained that if these offences had been prosecuted at the time they occurred, under the old sexual offences law, Mitcheson would have been eligible only for a referral order, indicating the seriousness of the case and the legal context of the period.

Representing Mitcheson in court, Martin Sharpe presented 39 character references, highlighting the defendant’s efforts to rebuild his life. Mitcheson, a fully trained baker, expressed his desire to emigrate to Australia or New Zealand with his wife, aiming to meet a shortage in the baking trade in those countries.

Judge James Adkin acknowledged that there were no relevant convictions either at the time of the offences or currently, and emphasized that there had been no repetition of such conduct. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the judge decided against a custodial sentence. Instead, he imposed a one-year community order, which includes attending 20 days of a probation-led desistance programme designed to prevent future offending.

Additionally, Mitcheson was subjected to a lifetime restraining order, explicitly forbidding any contact with the victim to ensure her ongoing safety and well-being.