IAN SHEFFIELD, MUSIC TEACHER FROM BASELIDON, SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON
In March 2004, Ian Sheffield, a 29-year-old music teacher, was sentenced to seven years in prison for engaging in sexual activities with two teenage girls.Sheffield showed no emotion as Judge Daniel Worsley handed down the sentence, describing his actions as a "monstrous abuse of trust" towards the girls, who were 14 and 15 years old.
During the court proceedings, the 14-year-old girl was so overwhelmed that she took an overdose of painkillers, and the other girl was seen sobbing uncontrollably as she testified at Basildon Crown Court.
Judge Worsley expressed concern, stating, "Who knows if these girls will ever trust adults again?" Sheffield, who was planning to marry a 41-year-old American woman later that year, was disqualified from working with children and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
A jury found him unanimously guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault and other serious sexual offences.
Following the verdict, Sheffield’s father shouted, "You must be out of your little minds!" in protest.
The judge called for calm among the gathered spectators.
Sheffield was convicted of indecently assaulting the 14-year-old girl on three counts and abusing his position of trust to engage in sexual intercourse three times with her.
Concerning the 15-year-old, he was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child.
The two girls, now a year older, claimed that Sheffield took them on drives for the purpose of sex.
His defence barrister, Nicola May, stated that Sheffield was devastated by the verdict, adding, "Every part of his life has collapsed as a result of these proceedings.
However, the woman he was expecting to marry has been supportive and intends to stand by him." Sheffield was eventually released early from jail in 2008.
