A former driving instructor has been jailed for seven years for sex assaults against a young girl at a Wrexham swimming pool some 20 years ago.
Roger Canton, 68, of Tower View, Wrexham, had pleaded not guilty to three charges of indecent assault and a charge of gross indecency with a child.
It followed allegations that he sexually touched a girl now in her late 20s during swimming sessions when she was aged 10 or 11.
He was convicted and today received a seven-year prison sentence with an additional 12 months on licence supervision, making it formally an eight-year sentence.
He was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for life.
Canton was also made the subject of a life-time sexual harm prevention order.
Judge Niclas Parry said Canton had a conviction from 1979 for indecent assault upon another girl in a swimming pool in the Northgate Arena in Chester.
The judge, sitting at Mold Crown Court, said that, for the second time in his life, Canton had taken advantage of a young girl to sexually abuse her.
The court heard the defendant had warned both victims against reporting the matter, and that the effect upon the victim in the present case had been long-term.
It had affected the parenting of her own children and she suffered high levels of stress and anxiety.
“There has been an element of grooming and planning to deliberately isolate her,” said the judge.
The judge said the case was aggravated by the fact that the offences had taken place in a public swimming pool, that Canton had isolated his victim in a changing cubicle, and that there was “a significant disparity in age”.
Judge Parry said he took into account the defendant’s age, the fact that he was the sole carer for his sick wife, and the fact that he had remained out of trouble for 20 years.
He said he had decided that it was not a case where he should be sentenced as a dangerous offender.
Prosecuting barrister Simon Parry said the offences occurred at the Plas Madoc pool, where the victim was assaulted in the pool and the changing rooms.
Canton also made her touch him when he was wearing speedo trunks and told her not to tell anyone, Mr Parry explained.
The victim went to the police last year and reported what he had done.
When she was a teenager in 2001, she had told a woman about what happened and that woman had made notes at the time, said Mr Parry.
Canton said the allegations were simply not true.
Jonathan Duffy, defending, said his client denied that anything of a sexual nature had ever occurred between the complainant and himself.
He said: “He maintains that he was not guilty. That is his position.”
The court heard the defendant was extremely concerned that his seriously ill wife would be left vulnerable.
A long time had elapsed since the offences occurred and he had not been in any further trouble at all, said Mr Duffy.
Following the sentencing, DS Anne-Louise Jones of North Wales Police said; “This case shows that North Wales Police and the courts are determined to deal with historic sexual abuse cases.
“I would encourage any victims of such abuse, past or present, to report incidents to the police so we can help bring these criminals to justice.”
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