Man jailed for non-recent rape of child

A man has been jailed for nine-and-a-half years for the non-recent rape and sexual abuse of a child.

Paul Colvin, 57, of Moorhall Lane, Stourport-on-Severn, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 25 September.

He was found unanimously guilty after trial in June of the rape of a child. He previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual abuse of a child, and seven counts of non-penetrative sexual activity with a child at an earlier hearing, all in respect of the same victim. 

The victim has been updated by officers throughout the investigation and has been offered access to specialist support services she may benefit from.

The victim bravely provided a statement to the court which highlighted the impact the offending had on her. She said: “The abuse I suffered as a child has had a lasting impact on my life. One of the biggest impacts, which I feel is the most significant, is that my childhood was completely swept out from under me.

“I did not have a normal childhood like others, I didn’t get to enjoy my life, be innocent and carefree; instead, I felt I had to grow up before my time. I have very little happy memories of my childhood, I know I enjoyed family holidays with my dad and grandparents, but I only have those memories from photographs.

“It deeply saddens me that I don’t remember all the time I spent with them. All those memories are locked in a box in my head, and my brain has not filtered out the bad, but has instead locked a chunk of my life away to protect me.”

T/DS Carl Spicer, officer in the case from our criminal investigations department, said: “I wish to commend the bravery and strength of the victim to report these crimes.

“Her resilience and patience throughout the police investigation and court proceedings have been exemplary.

“Colvin has been punished for his offending and I wish to reassure victims of sexual assault, that they will be believed, supported and that we will always investigate any abuse and bring offenders to justice, regardless of when it happened.

“Colvin was calculated in his offending and systematically sexually abused a young child over a significant period of time without a single care for her well-being. His offending has had a serious and lasting impact on the victim, who we will continue to support.”