ROGER SANDERS FROM EAST BRENT SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AT TAUNTON CROWN COURT

In October 2018, a disturbing case involving the sexual misconduct of an elderly man from East Brent came to light, shocking the local community and prompting a serious legal response. Roger Sanders, aged 76 and residing on Church Road in East Brent, was brought before Taunton Crown Court to face charges related to his inappropriate conduct towards a young girl.

The case was initiated after a five-year-old girl, who was a pupil at her primary school, inadvertently revealed details of her encounters with Sanders. Her innocent disclosure, overheard by teachers and staff, prompted immediate concern and led to police involvement. The authorities launched an investigation that uncovered a pattern of disturbing behavior by Sanders.

Prosecutor Ian Fenney outlined the details of the case, stating that Sanders had sexually touched the young girl on five separate occasions. Additionally, he had invited her to touch him sexually on one occasion, and on another, he performed a sexual act in front of her. These actions, described in court, demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior directed at the vulnerable child.

Sanders pleaded guilty to the charges, and during sentencing, he attempted to claim that his actions were not sexually motivated. However, the presiding judge, David Ticehurst, dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the evidence pointed to a clear sexual intent behind Sanders' conduct.

A victim impact statement, read aloud in court by the girl’s father, conveyed the profound emotional toll the incidents had taken on the family. He expressed concern about her future, fearing that she might come to see such behavior as normal, which could have long-lasting effects on her development and well-being.

Judge Ticehurst sentenced Sanders to 30 months in prison, reflecting the severity of his offenses. Furthermore, he imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict Sanders' contact with children and ordered him to register as a sex offender by signing the Sex Offenders’ Register. As part of the court’s sentence, Sanders was also required to pay a statutory surcharge of £170, which contributes to funding victim support services.

This case underscores the importance of vigilance and swift action in protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse. The community of East Brent is reminded of the ongoing need to safeguard its most vulnerable members and to ensure that justice is served in cases of child sexual abuse.