SHAUN HEWER FROM GOSPORT SENTENCED FOR HISTORICAL CHILD SEX OFFENCES AT PORTSMOUTH CROWN COURT

A 65-year-old man from Gosport, Shaun Anthony Hewer, has been sentenced to prison for historical child sex offences. Hewer, who had previously been convicted of five offences, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday, 5 December. He is ordered to serve nine years in custody, followed by a one-year period on licence. Hewer will only be eligible for release after serving two-thirds of his nine-year sentence. The crimes for which he was convicted took place at a Gosport address between 1978 and 1989, when the victim was aged between four and 16.

Nikki Ginn, a police staff investigator from the Fareham and Gosport District Investigations Team, expressed her support for the victim. She stated, "First and foremost, I would like to praise the victim in this case for the bravery she has shown in ensuring this child abuser has been brought to justice. I am so pleased for her that justice has finally been served in this case."

Ginn added, "After more than 40 years of having to deal with what Hewer did to her, she has now seen him put behind bars, where he belongs. He took her innocence from her when she was only four years old and continued to abuse her into her teenage years." She emphasized that while this sentencing may not erase the memories of her ordeal, she hopes it helps her move forward, knowing he can no longer cause harm to other children.

Ginn concluded by saying, "I also hope this sentence will reassure other victims that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents to us, even if a considerable amount of time has passed since the offences took place."