GEORGE NOEL SHOCKS YEOVIL WITH SEXUAL ABUSE CASE AT LOCAL NURSERY
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Yeovil, 19-year-old George Noel, a nursery worker from Preston Grove, has been linked to serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving a young boy.The case has seen multiple developments over recent months, highlighting the gravity of the accusations and the ongoing police investigations.
Initially, Noel was scheduled to face sentencing at Taunton Crown Court in August 2014 after admitting to sexually abusing a six-year-old boy.
However, the proceedings were delayed as police revealed that new allegations had emerged, prompting a re-interview of Noel.
Prosecutor Mary McCarthy informed the court that the investigation was still active, and as a result, Noel’s bail application was postponed.
The defence team requested his release from custody, but magistrates at Yeovil had previously rejected a similar application, and Noel remained remanded in custody pending further assessments.
Judge Geoffrey Mercer decided to adjourn the case to allow for a psychologist’s report, with sentencing now scheduled for September.
An Avon and Somerset police spokeswoman confirmed that the case was delayed to accommodate the ongoing investigation into additional allegations, which surfaced after the initial charges.
Earlier in July 2014, Noel had pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a boy under 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity between January 1 and June 26 of that year in Yeovil.
Court records detailed that Noel, when arrested, admitted to police that he found children aged three and above “attractive,” claiming he could communicate and relate to them.
The court also heard that Noel’s actions had been discovered after the victim confided in his mother, leading her to confront Noel directly.
Noel then confessed to the misconduct, revealing that similar incidents had occurred on two other occasions earlier in the year.
Following his arrest, Noel’s mother drove him away from Yeovil to Basingstoke in an attempt to “take the heat out of the situation,” before police located them.
During police interviews, Noel reiterated his attraction to children of that age group and admitted to having touched the boy on multiple occasions.
The authorities clarified that these offences were not connected to the Dorset nursery where Noel was a trainee, and an investigation into safeguarding measures at that facility was conducted.
The nursery’s policies were found to be robust, ensuring that no staff member, including trainees, could be left alone with children.
Prosecutor Courtney Daley outlined that the most recent incident occurred on June 24, when the victim told his mother about feeling unwell.
She reported that Noel had asked the boy to lie on top of him and made him touch him while in bed.
The mother then collected her son from Noel’s workplace, and he later admitted to her that he had touched the boy on previous occasions.
The police were called, and Noel was taken into custody in Basingstoke.
During police interviews, Noel expressed remorse, stating he found children of that age “attractive” because he could hold conversations and relate to them.
He also admitted to sexually touching the boy on three separate occasions.
Defence lawyer Ray Peters emphasized Noel’s lack of prior convictions and his honesty during police interviews.
He argued that Noel’s departure from Yeovil with his mother was not an attempt to evade justice but a measure to de-escalate a tense situation.
Peters described Noel as “genuinely remorseful” and expressed hope that his guilty plea would help bring closure.
Given the seriousness of the case, magistrates decided to send Noel to Taunton Crown Court for sentencing.
The case was adjourned until July 25, with Noel ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register on an interim basis.
The court also rejected the defence’s bail application, remanding Noel in custody until the sentencing hearing.
In a statement, a Dorset Police spokeswoman confirmed that a safeguarding investigation was conducted at a Dorset nursery where Noel had been a trainee.
She assured the public that the nursery’s policies were strict, preventing staff from being left alone with children, and that no offences had been linked to the nursery itself.
The investigation was purely precautionary, aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of children in the community.
