PETER CAVILLA OF MOREDON SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR HISTORIC CHILD ABUSE IN SWINDON

In a case that has shocked the local community of Moredon and the wider Swindon area, Peter Cavilla, a 70-year-old man, has been sentenced to five years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses committed against a young girl during the 1980s. The crimes, which spanned over five years, involved repeated abuse of a girl who was a family friend, beginning when she was only eight years old and continuing until she reached the age of twelve.

According to court proceedings, Cavilla, who was described as a large and intimidating man at the time, took advantage of his position as a babysitter for the girl’s family to carry out his heinous acts. The abuse included physical contact and inappropriate behavior, with Cavilla often giving the girl alcohol to lower her inhibitions. On some occasions, he would instruct her not to tell anyone about what was happening, further silencing her and allowing the abuse to continue unchecked for years.

The court heard that after the physical abuse ceased, Cavilla engaged in even more disturbing behavior by constructing a periscope, which he used to spy on the girl in the bathroom during her visits to his house. This act of voyeurism added another layer of trauma to the victim’s experience. The girl, now in her late thirties, described how these experiences had a lasting impact on her life. She revealed that she struggled academically and found it difficult to form healthy relationships with men, often feeling worthless and resigned to accepting mistreatment in her adult relationships.

During the trial, prosecutor Tessa Hingston detailed the nature of the offenses, emphasizing that the abuse took place between 1982 and 1987. She highlighted that Cavilla, who was in his mid-40s at the time, was a “big man” and “frightening,” which compounded the victim’s fear and confusion. The court was told that Cavilla’s actions included touching the girl when he babysat her, giving her alcohol, and encouraging her to touch him. The girl recounted how Cavilla would tell her “Shh, don’t tell anyone,” and when she expressed that what was happening was wrong, he would respond, “You are a good girl, this is something special.”

Although the abuse stopped after the girl confided in her family in the late 1980s, her family reportedly chose to ignore the severity of her disclosures, allowing Cavilla to continue babysitting. It was only later that she discovered he had used a periscope to spy on her, although he never physically assaulted her again. The victim’s statement revealed her ongoing struggles, including poor academic performance, difficulty in establishing relationships, and a sense of resignation that she “puts up with things.”

In court, Cavilla pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child. His defense lawyer, Rob Ross, acknowledged the severity of the crimes but argued that Cavilla had otherwise led a blameless life. He described Cavilla as a retired man with documented health issues that could complicate his time in custody.

Judge Tim Mousley QC sentenced Cavilla to five years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, noting that Cavilla’s abuse took multiple forms, including physical contact, psychological manipulation, and voyeurism. He pointed out that Cavilla, who was in his mid-40s at the time, believed he could get away with his actions until the victim finally came forward. The judge stated, “Your abuse of her took many different forms. You were in your mid-40s at the time. You thought you were going to get away with it and you did until the victim came forward. These are very serious offences and there has to be a prison sentence. The starting point on the sentence increases to reflect the fact she was very young, that you had been trusted to look after her on occasions, you plied her with alcohol, and told her not to tell anybody. Each makes it more serious. I take into account what you did was non-penetrative, but it went on for five years. You repeated it again and again and you have ruined her life.”

Earlier in June 2014, Cavilla faced similar charges and was warned of an impending custodial sentence. He admitted to molesting the girl, who was between the ages of eight and twelve, during the mid-1980s. The court was told that he had abused her over a five-year period up until the end of 1987. His defense requested an adjournment to obtain a medical report, and he was released on bail with restrictions not to contact children under 16. Judge Douglas Field cautioned that a custodial sentence was almost inevitable, and bail should not be interpreted as a sign of leniency.