CRAWLEY MAN JAILED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING YOUNG BOY
A 37-year-old man named Michael Simmonds, who has no fixed domicile, attracted police attention when a 13-year-old boy reported being assaulted in woodland during June 2025.The boy’s prompt report enabled law enforcement officers to quickly locate and arrest Simmonds.
After his arrest, Simmonds’ mobile device was confiscated and analyzed.
The investigation revealed that he was in possession of child abuse images, including those classified as Category A and B.
He was formally charged with sexual assault on June 30, 2025.
Initially, Simmonds was released on bail, during which time specialized officers secured a Sexual Risk Order (SRO), which placed stringent restrictions on his use of digital technology and required him to be supervised by an offender manager.
Not long after the SRO was issued, Simmonds violated it by downloading and using certain apps and websites without authorization.
On October 27, 2025, he was charged with breaching the order and for taking indecent photographs of children.
Following this, he also broke his bail conditions, leading to his being remanded into custody.
He appeared before Crawley Magistrates Court and admitted guilt to all charges on 18 November 2025.
Subsequently, on 19 January 2026, Simmonds faced sentencing at Lewes Crown Court, where he received a sentence of three years and two months in prison.
A ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also issued against him.
