MAN WHO ABUSED TWO CHILDREN JAILED FOR 18 YEARS
In a significant development in the ongoing fight against child sexual abuse, Anthony Pitts, a 39-year-old resident of Carterton, has seen his prison sentence substantially increased following a recent court ruling.Originally sentenced to 12 years in June, Pitts's term has now been extended to 18 years after the Court of Appeal determined that the initial sentence was unduly lenient.
According to court records, Pitts was convicted at Oxford Crown Court in March 2021 on a total of 13 counts of sexual offences committed against two young victims.
The offences spanned a period from 1995 to 2005 and took place within Oxfordshire.
The victims, whose identities are protected by law, included a boy over 16 and a girl under 13, both of whom suffered from Pitts’s heinous acts.
The charges included rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault of a child under 13 by penetration.
Pitts was found guilty of raping a boy over 16, inciting a boy under 16 to commit an act of gross indecency, and two counts of raping and grossly indecently assaulting boys under 16.
Additionally, he was convicted of seven counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration after a seven-day trial at Oxford Crown Court.
Despite the numerous convictions, Pitts was acquitted of five other sexual offences, including allegations involving a different victim.
The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning a decade, highlighting the severity and duration of Pitts’s criminal conduct.
Following his conviction, Pitts was remanded in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 10.
The recent decision by the Court of Appeal to increase his sentence underscores the gravity of his crimes and the judicial system’s commitment to ensuring justice for the victims.
The extended sentence reflects the serious nature of the offences and the court’s recognition of the need for a strong punitive response to such egregious acts of child abuse.
