CHARLES REEVES JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN WIGTON AND PORTSMOUTH

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Wigton and Portsmouth, an 80-year-old man named Charles Reeves has been sentenced to a year in prison for a series of disturbing sexual offences committed against a young girl in Wigton over a decade ago.

Reeves, who was residing in Wigton at the time of the incidents, was brought before Carlisle Crown Court to face charges that spanned several years. The court was told that Reeves posed a significant risk to children, a concern that was underscored by the judge's decision to order him to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

The court proceedings revealed that Reeves had pleaded guilty to five separate counts of indecent assault, all involving the same young girl. The nature of these offences was particularly troubling, with four of them occurring when the girl was between six and eight years old. These included acts such as kissing her on the lips and touching her inside her thighs. The fifth offence, which involved a forcible kiss, took place when the girl was ten years old.

During the trial, it was disclosed that Reeves had once told the girl, “Don’t tell Mary or she’ll go mad,” indicating an attempt to conceal his actions and possibly exert control over the victim. The court heard that Reeves’s actions were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of inappropriate behavior.

Judge John Phillips, presiding over the case, acknowledged that Reeves claimed his actions were not premeditated. However, he expressed grave concern over Reeves’s continued belief that his conduct was merely “playful” and not sexual in nature. The judge emphasized the severity of the offences, stating, “These offences are so serious they justify only an immediate custodial sentence,” leading to the 12-month imprisonment.

Reeves, who now lives alone in Portsmouth after being abandoned by his family, was described as a high risk to children, a designation that underscores the potential danger he poses. His conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the ongoing efforts of the justice system to address such heinous crimes.