GARY SAUNDERS FROM TURNFORD FINED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN HERTFORDSHIRE

In September 2013, a serious case of sexual misconduct involving a man from Turnford, Hertfordshire, came to light during a trial at St Albans Crown Court. Gary Saunders, aged 51 and residing on Cassandra Gate in Turnford, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a young girl who was only 14 years old at the time of the incident. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing account of abuse that spanned nearly two decades, culminating in Saunders being fined and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

According to court records, Saunders was convicted of two counts of indecent assault, with the offences dating back to October 7, 1994. The victim, now 33 years old, recounted her ordeal, which she kept secret for many years. She revealed that she was driven to woods by Saunders in his car when she was just 14, and it was only after a long period that she confided in her mother about the abuse. Her testimony detailed how Saunders had kissed and groped her during that encounter, and how he had warned her to keep the incident a secret, saying, “You best not tell anyone about this. It will be our secret.”

The court heard that the victim, who had since married and started her own family, finally disclosed the abuse in early 2006. Her mother later contacted the police in 2011, leading to Saunders’s arrest and subsequent trial. During the proceedings, the jury was shown evidence of Saunders’s interactions with the girl, including an incident at a party attended by Saunders and his wife. The victim remembered seeing Saunders sitting on the stairs, appearing upset and crying. When she approached him, he confided that he had no one to talk to and asked if they could meet the following day.

The next day, the girl met Saunders in Broxbourne, unaware of his intentions. He then drove her to Wormley Woods, where the assault took place. She described feeling frightened as Saunders stopped the car in a lay-by, turned off the engine, and began to make inappropriate advances. She recounted that Saunders kissed her with tongues and touched her breasts over her jumper, and he expressed a desire to remove her knickers. She told him to stop, but he appeared disappointed when she resisted. As she exited the vehicle, Saunders warned her again, saying, “You best not tell anyone about this. It will be our secret.”

Following the incident, Saunders maintained his innocence, claiming that nothing untoward had occurred. However, the jury found him guilty of the charges. As a result, he was ordered to pay fines of £750 for each offence, totaling £1,500. Additionally, Saunders was informed that he would be barred from working with children, and his name will be added to the Sex Offenders Register, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the impact on his victim’s life.