BRAIN SWEET FROM LOSTWITHIEL FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN CORNWALL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Lostwithiel, Cornwall, Brian Sweet, a 68-year-old local sports coach, has been convicted of serious sexual offenses involving two young girls. The incidents, which took place in 1999, involved Sweet allegedly touching the genitals of the victims, who were only 12 and 13 years old at the time.

Sweet’s trial at Truro Crown Court lasted several days, during which he maintained his innocence, denying all seven counts of indecent assault brought against him. After careful deliberation, the jury found him guilty of five of these counts, confirming that he had indeed engaged in inappropriate physical contact with the two girls. The verdict marks a significant development in a case that has lingered for nearly two decades.

Throughout the proceedings, it was revealed that Sweet was a well-known figure within the Lostwithiel community. His involvement extended beyond sports, as he was active in local bowls and football clubs, and also contributed to activities at the parish church. Despite his community standing, the allegations have cast a long shadow over his reputation.

During the trial, the court heard that the victims’ parents did not report the incidents to the police at the time, primarily because their daughters were too distressed to speak about what had happened. On Tuesday, October 16, the mother of one of the girls took the stand to give her testimony. She explained that her daughter had never fully disclosed the details of the abuse, only stating that Sweet “had touched her.”

“She was so distressed I didn’t want to push her,” the mother said. “She alleges that he touched her, and I have no reason to doubt that.” When questioned by Sweet’s defense lawyer, Rupert Taylor, about why no police report was filed in 1999, she responded that it was “a different era.”

“We really didn’t know how we were going to deal with it,” she added. “The girls didn’t want to go into it or discuss it. We were led by their wishes. They weren’t ready to take any action at that time. We wanted to give them the opportunity to decide what to do, but they didn’t want it to go any further.”

It was also revealed that one of the girls contacted the police in 2005, six years after the alleged incidents, but her complaint was never followed up. It was only in 2017 that another contact was made, leading to Sweet’s eventual arrest and charges.

During his defense, Sweet insisted he had no sexual interest in children. He pointed out that he had undergone regular Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks and had been coaching children for years without any prior allegations or complaints. Despite his assertions, the jury’s verdict confirmed his guilt.

Judge Robert Linford, presiding over the case, informed Sweet that sentencing would take place on the morning of October 22. He warned Sweet to prepare for an inevitable custodial sentence. However, as a gesture of mercy, the judge granted Sweet bail over the weekend pending sentencing.