JEFFREY FULLER FROM HOLT ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MELKSHAM AND SWINDON

In a recent case that has sparked outrage and concern within the community, Jeffrey Fuller, a resident of Avonfield, Holt, was brought before Swindon Crown Court in July 2004 to face charges related to the sexual assault of a young girl. Despite admitting to three counts of indecent assault committed between March 2000 and December 2002, Fuller was handed a relatively lenient sentence that has left the victim’s family and local residents feeling disappointed and worried about future encounters.

Fuller, aged 39 at the time, was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of five years. The court proceedings revealed that Fuller had engaged in inappropriate behavior towards the girl, who was between the ages of 11 and 13 during the incidents. The girl’s mother, who has chosen to remain anonymous for legal reasons, expressed her deep dissatisfaction with the outcome, stating, “He is a very clever man and has fooled absolutely everybody. I am angry because for what he did he should receive a custodial sentence.”

The mother voiced her fears that her daughter, now 15, might encounter Fuller again in the streets of Melksham, especially considering that he resides in Holt. She expressed her concern that Fuller’s light sentence amounts to a mere slap on the wrist, making her worry about her daughter’s safety as she navigates her daily life in the town.

During the court hearing, prosecutor Giles Nelson detailed the nature of Fuller’s misconduct, revealing that Fuller had engaged in a disturbing game with the girl, during which he touched her breasts over her clothing. This revelation added to the community’s distress over the case.

Fuller’s defense attorney, John Jones, criticized the pre-sentence report, describing it as a “fantasy of what could happen in the worst possible situation.” Jones argued that the charges represented “the mildest form of inappropriate touching” and emphasized Fuller’s long-standing health issues, claiming he was “a wreck physically and mentally.” The defense’s portrayal of Fuller as a victim of his own health problems appeared to influence the court’s decision, which many feel did not adequately reflect the severity of the crimes committed.

As the community grapples with the implications of the court’s decision, concerns remain high about the potential for Fuller to reoffend and the safety of young girls in the area. The case has reignited debates about sentencing policies and the effectiveness of community-based rehabilitation for sex offenders in small towns like Holt and Melksham.