A MAN has been jailed for four years after being found guilty of historical child sex abuse offences.

Scott Twaddle, 42 and of Blandford, stood trial at Bournemouth Crown Court and was convicted in early March of indecency with a child and indecent assault.

Appearing in the dock at the same court for sentencing on March 25, Twaddle was jailed for four years by Recorder James Newton-Price QC for two “serious sexual offences involving a child”.

The court heard the offences, which dated back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, were committed against a girl aged under 14 in Dorset.

Prosecutor Nick Cotter read two victim impact statements, which referenced the psychological and emotional impact Twaddle’s offending had on her.

The defendant had no relevant previous convictions prior to the guilty verdicts after the trial.

He was aged 19 to 20 when the child sex offences were carried out.

Mitigating, Edward Warren said the matters that brought the defendant was someone who was “held in high esteem” by those who know him and have worked with him.

He said his client was a young man when the offences took place and he had matured.

The court heard the allegations had first been reported in 2001 but no further action was taken. They were reported again in 2018, which led to the criminal court case by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Recorder Newton-Price said the case was aggravated by the disparity of age between the defendant and the victim.

The judge said the victim suffered significant and long-standing psychological harm.

Alongside the prison sentence, Twaddle was issued with a seven-year sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for the same period of time.

Detective Constable Ade Stocker, of Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “I want to praise the complainant in this case for the courage and commitment she has shown throughout this lengthy investigation. Her support has helped to secure the conviction and imprisonment of Scott Twaddle for his abuse upon her.

“I hope this case demonstrates how Dorset Police is committed to supporting victims of child abuse, securing justice for them and I hope this will encourage others to come forward and report offences.”

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