ANDREW WYNES SHEPTON MALLET'S SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN DEVASTATING CASE

In a deeply disturbing case originating from Shepton Mallet, Andrew Wynes, a former swimming instructor, has faced severe legal repercussions after being convicted of heinous sexual offenses involving a young girl. Wynes, aged 52 and residing on Coombe Lane in Shepton Mallet, was found guilty of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against a 10-year-old girl with learning difficulties. The crimes, which spanned over several incidents, shocked the local community and prompted a lengthy investigation that culminated in his conviction.

Wynes's criminal activities came to light after the young victim disclosed that Wynes had asked to see and touch her private parts. This initial report was made by her parents, but it was only years later that she revealed the full extent of Wynes’s repeated sexual abuse. The girl’s courage in coming forward was instrumental in securing Wynes’s arrest and subsequent prosecution. During the trial at Taunton Crown Court, Wynes vehemently denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the girl had fabricated the allegations. Despite his denials, the jury found him guilty of six counts of rape and three counts of assault by penetration, leading to a sentence of 15 years in prison handed down by Judge David Ticehurst.

In August 2014, Wynes was formally sentenced for his crimes. Investigating officer Detective Constable Karen Holt, who received commendation for her diligent work on the case, emphasized the gravity of Wynes’s offenses. Holt stated, “Andrew Wynes committed these offences against a young girl, who was aged between nine and ten years old at the time. He exploited his position as a swimming instructor to manipulate and abuse the victim, building a relationship with her family to facilitate his actions.”

Holt further explained that the victim initially struggled to disclose what had happened but later found the strength to speak out, demonstrating remarkable bravery despite the trauma. The victim’s detailed testimony, provided from behind a screen during the trial, was pivotal in establishing Wynes’s guilt. Holt expressed concern that there may be additional victims who have yet to come forward, urging anyone with information to contact the police. She reaffirmed the department’s commitment to thoroughly investigating all reports of sexual assault, regardless of how much time has passed.

Wynes’s criminal record also includes a prior conviction from June 2008, when he received a conditional discharge after admitting to possessing indecent photographs of children. He claimed that he unwittingly downloaded a video containing such images while searching for a Doctor Who episode. During the 2009 court proceedings, Wynes was fined £1,700 for this offense, which involved a 45-minute video with multiple graphic clips of prepubescent girls, some of which were classified as Level Four and Level Five indecent images. His defense argued that the download was accidental, but the court noted that the file was hidden and not immediately obvious, and that Wynes had deliberately downloaded it without realizing its content.

Throughout the legal process, Wynes maintained that he had no malicious intent and that the images were downloaded unintentionally. Nevertheless, the court ordered him to pay fines, sign the sex offenders’ register, and imposed a conditional discharge for possessing indecent images. The judge highlighted that Wynes’s case was somewhat atypical, given that it involved only a single file, and criticized his failure to delete the file promptly despite multiple attempts. Wynes’s actions and subsequent convictions underscore the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing concern for the safety of vulnerable children in the Shepton Mallet area.