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A former school teacher from Weymouth has been jailed for eight years after being found guilty of child sex offences.
Dr Richard John Haddlesey, 52 and whose address was given as Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth, appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, December 8 for sentencing.
The court heard how he had sexually abused a girl over a period of years involving the touching of genitals. The girl had told police the first incident took place, when she was in year four, at an address in Weymouth.
This happened on a number of occasions over a period of years.
Providing an impact statement in court, the survivor of Haddleseys abuse said she had felt constant shame, anger and self-hatred but said Haddlesey had not won.
She said: You have not won because I continue to speak. I could go on for days telling you about how your behaviour has changed me as a person but that would be a waste of my time because you dont care.
People say that you should forgive people who hurt you so I forgive you but can you forgive yourself? You have not won, you do not have power anymore, I have the power. Day after day I feel stronger and what you did will not define me as a person.
His Honour Judge Stephen Climie said the victim had shown extraordinary strength to give evidence in the face of Haddleseys constant denial.
In police interview, she said she hadnt felt able to tell people about it at the time but, when she was 12, had seen Haddlesey at the school she attended and burst into tears. Haddlesey had applied for a job at the school and was being shown around.
In mitigation, Haddlesey was said to be of otherwise good character and suffering with anxiety. HHJ Climie was told the proceedings of the court had weighed heavily on Haddlesey.
The offences for which Haddlesey was sentenced took place between April 17, 2013 and April 10, 2015.
Haddlesey was found guilty of three offences after a trial in November. Jurors deliberated for nearly seven hours before returning majority verdicts on two counts of assault by touching a girl under the age of 13 and one count of inciting or causing a girl under the age of 13 to perform sexual activity.
Haddlesey worked as a supply teacher at various schools in Dorset.
HHJ Stephen Climie sentenced Richard Haddlesey to eight years in jail, of which he will serve two thirds, and subjected to him to a sexual harm prevention order as well as a restraining order.