JEREMY BRITTON FROM SWAY CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT WAREHAM HOTEL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Sway and the surrounding areas, Jeremy Britton, aged 34, has been found guilty of a serious sexual assault involving a two-year-old girl. The incident took place during a wedding celebration at the Springfield Hotel in Wareham on December 17 of the previous year.

Britton, who was serving as a DJ at the wedding party, was initially on trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. However, he failed to appear on the third day of his trial, Wednesday morning, raising concerns among the court officials and legal teams. It was only later in the day that police managed to locate him driving near Christchurch. A police chase ensued, culminating in a dramatic confrontation at the banks of the river at Iford. When Britton attempted to escape on foot after parking his vehicle, officers responded by deploying CS gas to subdue him, preventing his escape into the water.

Following his arrest, Britton, who had been bailed to his home address in Sway, was remanded in custody. The case was adjourned until the following day, Thursday, for further proceedings. Jurors were kept unaware of Britton’s bail violation until after they had reached their verdict, which ultimately convicted him of the charges related to the assault.

Judge Stuart Harington, presiding over the case, informed Britton that he would remain in custody while pre-sentence reports were prepared. The judge warned him that the likelihood of a custodial sentence was high, stating, “You should know that as you go from here you go with the probability that when you return you will receive a custodial sentence.”

The prosecution, led by Stephen Dent, presented evidence that contradicted Britton’s initial account of the events. The incident was said to have occurred in a toilet at the Springfield Hotel, shortly after 12:21 am. When first questioned by the girl’s mother, Britton denied any wrongdoing, suggesting that he and the girl had been dancing and that he had not seen her in the toilet. He later claimed he had been intoxicated and had gone to the toilet to be sick, asserting he had not seen the girl at that time.

However, DNA evidence proved otherwise. When confronted with the results, which showed saliva from Britton on the girl’s clothing, he admitted that he had been advised by his solicitor to lie during the initial interview. Subsequently, he provided a different version of events, claiming that the girl had been sitting on the toilet seat in a cubicle he entered to be sick while very drunk, and that he had moved her from the seat.

Judge Harington emphasized the gravity of the case, indicating that Britton’s actions warranted serious consideration for a custodial sentence. The verdict and subsequent sentencing will determine the future of the man from Sway, whose actions have left a lasting impact on the community and the victim’s family.