COLIN LYONS FROM WITNEY ESCAPES JAIL SENTENCE AFTER SEX OFFENSES IN OXFORD

In October 2008, a significant case unfolded at Oxford Crown Court involving Colin Lyons, a 19-year-old resident of Witney, who was accused of engaging in sexual activities with a minor. The court proceedings revealed that Lyons had admitted to the charges and requested the judge to consider four additional similar offences during sentencing.

Prosecutor Ian Thomas detailed the timeline of the victim's disclosure, stating, "The victim did not mention it to her mother at the time. She did not disclose the incident until April. She was visibly upset when she finally confided in her mother about what had happened. The very next day, the police were contacted to investigate the matter."

Lyons' defense attorney, Peter Coombe, emphasized the significance of his client's guilty plea, describing it as a key mitigating factor. Coombe also noted that Lyons, who resides on Park View Road in Witney, felt physically ill after the incident and expressed genuine remorse, stating, "He is disgusted with himself and what he has done."

Judge Julian Hall delivered his verdict, opting for a community order rather than imprisonment. Lyons was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes mandatory participation in a sex offenders' treatment program. Additionally, Lyons was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years.

In his remarks, Judge Hall condemned the actions, saying, "What you did was disgusting, and increasing awareness shows how much this kind of behaviour impacts victims. If I were to sentence you to 12 months in prison, you would be released in six months, leaving these serious issues unresolved. For the safety of others in the future, the only appropriate sentence is a community order. It is, in my view, the proper course of action for child protection moving forward."