BRIAN CLAASSEN FROM MANEA AND SWINDON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES AND INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Manea and Swindon, Brian Claassen, a 40-year-old man residing on Valentine Close in Manea, has been sentenced to serve three years and four months in prison for serious criminal offenses involving a young child and the possession of indecent images. The crimes took place at his photography studio, Lifestyle Portraits Ltd, located within the Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon, during June 2016.

Claassen was found guilty of sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl and taking an indecent photograph of her during the incident at his Wiltshire-based business. The assault and the photograph were part of the charges he faced, which also included the possession of a total of 166 indecent images of children stored on his computer. These charges were formally admitted during earlier court hearings held at Portsmouth Crown Court.

The investigation was led by Detective Constable Mark Harris from Swindon CID, who expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the case. He emphasized the importance of the victim’s family in bringing Claassen to justice, highlighting that the young girl’s courage in informing her parents played a crucial role. Detective Harris praised the family’s cooperation and support, which helped investigators uncover the extent of Claassen’s misconduct.

He stated, “I am extremely pleased with the sentence handed out today. I must thank the family involved. Without the questioning nature of this young girl — who told her mum and dad in the first place — and the help and support her parents have given our investigation team, it’s possible Claassen’s activities could have gone undetected. Instead, their vital evidence has led to a guilty plea and sentence.”

In addition to his prison term, Claassen will be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which aims to restrict his activities and prevent further offenses. Furthermore, all electronic devices belonging to him will be confiscated and forfeited as part of the court’s order to prevent any further misuse of digital media related to his crimes.