SHANE VERTIGAN SENTENCED TO FOUR AND A HALF YEARS IN NORWICH FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
A former Norfolk traffic warden and police community support officer from Fakenham, Shane Vertigan, aged 52, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy over three decades ago.Vertigan, who previously admitted to three counts of gross indecency with a child under 14 and two counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on Monday, December 13.
His crimes date back to 1992 and 1993.
During the hearing, Vertigan appeared via videolink from prison.
He is already serving a six-year sentence for sexual assaults committed against a teenage girl in the mid-2000s.
The victim, Wesley Spinks, now 41, chose to waive his right to remain anonymous.
He delivered an emotional statement to the court, describing the profound impact the abuse has had on his life.
Addressing Vertigan directly with a trembling voice, Mr.
Spinks said: “ Shane, I will never truly know the emotional and life-changing effects that your abuse had on me.” He continued, “Through the years your actions shut me down emotionally and physically, having to relive your disgusting actions daily, where I can both smell and remember what you made me do to you, all for your own self-gratification.” Prosecutor Lori Tucker outlined that Mr.
Spinks had known and trusted Vertigan before the abuse, which included an incident where Vertigan entered his bedroom wearing only his underwear.
On another occasion, Vertigan assaulted Mr.
Spinks in a van before taking him to a Norwich City football match.
Judge Maureen Bacon reflected on the gravity of the crimes, describing Vertigan’s actions as a “terrible abuse of an innocent child.” She noted the significant and long-lasting effects on Mr.
Spinks, including emotional damage and a struggle with alcohol dependency from which he has fought to recover.
The judge added, “He describes how his emotions have been disabled and disturbed and how he had descended into alcohol dependency which mercifully he has fought his way back from.
He stands in this court with sufficient magnanimity to forgive you.” Juliet Donovan, representing Vertigan, stated that he has been married for 22 years and has participated in church activities for many years.
She emphasized that Vertigan has written a heartfelt apology, saying, “He has written an apology note.
In essence it is a deep apology.
He realises what he has done and the effect he has had.”
