ANTHONY NEWMAN SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN SWINDON FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE

In April 2012, Anthony Newman, a former Royal Navy sailor, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for sexually abusing two boys over a span of two decades. Newman, aged 57 at the time of sentencing, targeted children as young as six, establishing a pattern of systematic abuse.

Prosecutor Stephen Dent told Swindon Crown Court that Newman began abusing one of the boys, the brother of a friend, in the early 1970s when Newman was around 19 or 20 years old. The minor, who had recently lost his father, received significant attention from Newman, who bought him alcohol despite the boy being only 10. The relationship involved shared interests in model boats, but the abuse escalated after an incident where the boy had to strip to retrieve a stuck model boat from a lake.

Mr. Dent explained that following this event, Newman repeatedly engaged in sexual activities with the boy at his home, in his parents’ bed, and in a field. The abuse persisted for about a year, but the victim did not report it until 2006, when Newman denied any wrongdoing. Due to a lack of evidence, the case went cold until October 2009, when another man came forward.

The second victim, who was friends with one of Newman’s children, revealed that Newman had also sexually abused him during the late 1980s and early 1990s, starting when he was just six years old. This abuse continued for several years, often occurring during school holidays when he visited Newman’s home. The victim stated that the assaults stopped when he was 10 but resumed later when Newman was living in Covingham, during summer visits.

During their interactions, Newman discussed sex with the boy, admitted to touching him, and described seeing men naked in showers while on duty in the Navy. Newman, who now resides in Ely, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of sexual offenses involving young boys.

Defence lawyer Ian Halliday argued that the offences appeared to have been committed with apparent consent and that there were no threats of violence involved. He further noted that the most serious offences occurred when Newman was 19 to 23 years old.

Halliday also highlighted Newman’s poor health, including early-stage Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, depression, anxiety, sleep apnoea, and high blood pressure. He added that Newman’s current wife and family stand by him.

Judge Douglas Field sentenced Newman to 14 years in prison, ordered him to register as a sex offender for life, and prohibited him from working with children in the future.