MICHAEL OLDLAND FROM WATERLOOVILLE SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN PORTSMOUTH

In September 2008, Michael Oldland, a 36-year-old resident of Waterlooville, faced a jury at Portsmouth Crown Court where he was found guilty of abusing a young girl. Although Oldland maintained that he did not engage in any sexual activity with the victim, the court's verdict confirmed his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case deeply affected the victim's family, particularly her mother and grandmother, who spoke out publicly about their feelings and concerns. They expressed their disappointment with the length of the sentence handed down and emphasized the importance of community awareness regarding known sex offenders. The grandmother of the girl stated, 'I would have liked him to get life. I feel the general public should know about paedophiles, because they should not be allowed to come back into the area and re-offend.' She further explained the shock of discovering that someone close to them was capable of such acts, remarking, 'You always think it’s going to happen to someone else, but when it hits your own doorstep, it’s a big shock.'

She also reflected on her own feelings of guilt and regret, saying, 'I was utterly devastated to think that I hadn’t spotted anything. I knew something was wrong, but just couldn’t quite put my finger on it.'

At the time of his arrest, Oldland was residing on Mill Road in Waterlooville. His apprehension was prompted by a family member who became suspicious after the girl recounted a disturbing story involving one of her friends being abused. This revelation led to police intervention and Oldland’s subsequent arrest.

The girl’s mother described her emotional turmoil upon learning the truth, stating, 'When I found out I just wanted to murder him. It was just like a living nightmare for me. On my life I would have done time standing on my head.' She expressed her approval of the court’s decision but also voiced her belief that Oldland deserved a longer sentence for his crimes. Additionally, she called for greater transparency within the community, asserting, 'Everyone in the community should know who he is. I don’t think it should be a closed issue — people should be aware if they have a paedophile living next door or in their street.'

As part of his sentence, Oldland has been permanently barred from working with or living around children. He will also remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. In a related matter, police charged him in connection with the mistreatment of a young boy; however, he was acquitted of those charges in court. Despite this, authorities have placed him on record regarding this incident, and further legal action could be pursued if additional evidence emerges.