Locations
Hendford Grove, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20
Description
A Yeovil pensioner has been jailed for 17 years for a string of sexual assaults on young boys spanning nearly 40 years.
Barry Dunthorn, 74, of Hendford Grove, was found guilty of nine counts of sexual assault on four male victims aged between 12 and 16 at the time the offences were committed.
Following a two week trial at Taunton Crown Court, Dunthorn was convicted of three indecent assaults on a male under 14 and three counts of indecent assault on a male under 16.
He was also found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, and one count of paying for the services of a child under 18.
The offences took place in South and East Somerset between 1981 and 2018.
The court heard how Dunthorn groomed his victims by encouraging them to commit sexual acts with him in exchange for cash payments and gifts.
The most recent offences relate to the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old victim, who was paid large cash sums in exchange for sexual activity over a 12 month period.
Following sentencing, HHJ Townsend paid tribute to the victims for their courage in disclosing the offences and for having to relive the abuse during the court process.
Investigating officer Andy Bath said: I would like to praise the bravery of the victims who reported the offences to the police and instigated an investigation.
After an initial report was made, a further three victims had the courage to come forward, all suffering similar traumatic events at the hands of the defendant.
He created the opportunity to arrange meetings in secret and paid sums of cash to the victims to keep quiet about what was happening.
He has shown absolutely no remorse for his actions and throughout the lengthy investigation and court trial he has denied his illegal activities.
Nevertheless, the jury found him guilty of nine indictments.
I very much hope that the victims will get some comfort in the knowledge that the man who had made them suffer abuse when they were children will now receive a custodial sentence for what he did.