Back in October My Abbots News reported on a delicate matter which concerned a local 17-year-old being found guilty, unanimously, of sexually assaulting two children who were being looked after by his mother. She was the childminder of the two youngsters in question, both of which were under the age of 13
As reported, because of the boy’s age, he was given a sentence of 18 months' detention and training and must remain registered as a sex offender for five years. Of course, we accepted at the time that this was a difficult topic to cover, but we felt it was in the public interest to report it. However, one thing we always try to be is fair, and after receiving a letter from the boy’s mother, we felt it only right to print it. She is now no longer able to work as a child minder because of his punishment, and this is what she had to say. Dear Editor, In response to the statement regarding my son in the October issue of My Abbots News. I feel really devastated in the way you portrayed my son in your publication. I feel he didn’t receive a fair trial. None of his witnesses were called. Yes, I was a childminder for many years, with most of the parents I have worked for prepared to go to court to be a witness for my son. However, they were never called, which I found difficult to understand. My son is a fun, loving and caring young adult who was working and studying at college hoping to build a good career and prosperous future for himself. Now it has been ruined. When the allegations, which varied from year to year, were supposed to have happened, my son was at school or out with his friends, but this is difficult to prove because of the lengthy time span of the event. We will do anything to prove his innocence. My Abbots News has also said in the October article that my son is in denial! Well, yes he is in denial because he did nothing wrong. Why should someone say that he committed a crime when he never did? Would you? I am very disappointed with the law and the way they have treated my son. We are appealing and we will carry on fighting to prove his innocence, and we will go as far as we can.
Back in October My Abbots News reported on a delicate matter which concerned a local 17-year-old being found guilty, unanimously, of sexually assaulting two children who were being looked after by his mother. She was the childminder of the two youngsters in question, both of which were under the age of 13