THOMAS KNEEBONE FROM WADEBRIDGE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON PRETEEN GIRL IN CORNWALL

 |  Red Rose Database

Wadebridge Child Sexual Abuser
In January 2018, a disturbing case unfolded at Truro Crown Court involving Thomas Kneebone, a 20-year-old man from Wadebridge, who was found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses against a young girl under the age of 13. The trial revealed harrowing details of the abuse, which had taken place the previous year, and the court heard compelling evidence that left a lasting impression on the judge presiding over the case.

The case centered around a video interview with the victim, a preteen girl whose identity remains protected for legal reasons. The judge described her recorded testimony as the most compelling he had encountered in his 32 years on the bench. The jury, composed of nine men and three women, convicted Kneebone on all five counts brought against him, which included three charges of sexual activity with a child under 13 and two counts of inciting or causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual acts.

Prosecutor Philip Lee detailed the disturbing nature of the offenses to the jury. He explained that Kneebone had manipulated the young girl into removing her clothing under the pretense of giving her a massage. During these encounters, Kneebone touched her private parts, an act that the victim described as deeply upsetting. Mr. Lee further revealed that Kneebone persuaded the girl to perform masturbation on him, a request she ultimately refused when he asked her to perform oral sex.

The court heard that after the incidents, the victim returned home visibly upset. Her mother noticed her distress and inquired about her well-being. Initially reluctant, the girl eventually disclosed the abuse, revealing that Kneebone had asked if she had ever had a massage before and had convinced her to remove her clothes. He then touched her vagina, justifying his actions with comments like “it’s fine, it’ll teach you for when you’re older” and “school doesn’t teach you these things.”

The evidence further detailed how Kneebone encouraged and assisted the girl in masturbating him, and he also asked her to perform oral sex, which she refused. The victim’s account was corroborated by the police interview, which the judge described as profoundly compelling and indicative of the severity of the offenses.

In sentencing, Judge Simon Carr expressed his profound concern over the case. He emphasized the impact of the victim’s video interview, stating it was the most compelling he had seen in over three decades. The judge condemned Kneebone’s actions, highlighting that the defendant’s conduct was driven by his own sexual gratification, with little regard for the victim’s innocence or understanding.

Judge Carr pointed out that the young girl, who looked up to Kneebone, was manipulated and exploited. The judge described the acts—ranging from inappropriate touching under the guise of a massage to encouraging her to masturbate him—as extremely serious offenses. Kneebone’s behavior was characterized as predatory and deeply damaging.

Following the conviction, Judge Carr sentenced Kneebone to four and a half years in a young offenders’ institution. Additionally, he ordered Kneebone to sign the sex offender register for life, underscoring the gravity of the crimes committed and the importance of ongoing monitoring to protect the community from potential future offenses.
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