STEPHEN LE FROM MAITRE – LATTON SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES AT COTSWOLD WATER PARK

In a recent case that has shocked the local community, Stephen Le, a 33-year-old man from Maitre – Latton near Cricklade, was found guilty of multiple sexual offences committed at the Cotswold Water Park. The incidents, which spanned over nearly two years, involved indecent exposure, indecent assault, and theft, culminating in a court appearance where Le received a custodial sentence.

Le was brought before magistrates and pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent exposure, which occurred on July 5 and August 28, as well as to indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl on May 28. Additionally, he admitted to stealing a pair of women’s briefs on July 5. The court also considered nine other offences of indecent exposure in Gloucestershire and eight similar offences in Wiltshire, all committed over the course of nearly two years, which were taken into account during sentencing.

Prosecutor Derek Ryder provided details of the offences, describing how the assault took place at the Cotswold Hoburne caravan park, where the 17-year-old girl was staying in a tent with a friend. According to Mr. Ryder, the girl was bent over to open the tent’s zip when she was touched by Le. She then looked around and saw Le-Maitre walking away from the scene.

Further incidents included an event on July 5, when a woman working at Keynes Country Park observed Le-Maitre standing naked in shallow water at Lake 32. That same evening, a pair of women’s briefs, which had been drying outside a chalet at the Water Park, were stolen. Witnesses reported seeing a naked man running in the direction of the theft.

On August 28, another disturbing incident occurred when a 39-year-old woman cycling at Keynes Country Park with her niece encountered Le-Maitre. She saw him staring at her while she was standing naked in the lake, further confirming his pattern of indecent behaviour. Le-Maitre admitted to exposing himself to multiple females over a two-year period, claiming that doing so gave him a thrill. He also confessed to stealing women’s briefs from washing lines in the area.

During the court hearing, Le’s defence lawyer, Howard Ogden, described his client as a man of good character who was currently experiencing loneliness and social isolation. Ogden explained that Le’s behaviour was linked to the breakdown of his marriage, which was affected by his wife’s mental health issues. He stated, “His life has become a lonely existence without love, having been hurt by the trauma of coping with the mental illness of his partner.”

Magistrates sentenced Le to three months in prison for the indecent assault. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police within three days of his release, a requirement that will remain in effect for the next seven years under the Sexual Offenders Act. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about public safety at the Cotswold Water Park and the importance of strict legal action against such offences.