Locations
Belben Road, Poole, Dorset, BH12
Description
A monster who sexually abused a toddler had his head in his hands as he was jailed for serious sexual assaults. The girl, aged just four at the time, was sexually touched by Andrew Michael Hansford in West Dorset on no less than three occasions.
The girl, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons, told Hansford that the assault hurt her, but he carried on. She bravely told her mother about the abuse and its pain and they immediately reported the sexual assaults to Dorset Police.
In a moving victim impact statement to Bournemouth Crown Court, the girl’s mother spoke of the horror of the sexual abuse. The abuse also had significant harm on the victim, with her being “terrified of men”.
She said: “I’m enjoy just having my daughter back. I don’t want her to be made to suffer anymore. I want her to see that not all men are monsters. She was just a child and doesn’t deserve the hurt she has been put through.”
The girl, now aged six years old, is now recovering from the serious abuse she suffered at the hands of Hansford. Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS) is continuing to support the victim.
Hansford was arrested and denied any incident took place. Hansford, aged 29, and of Belben Road in Poole, was charged with two charges of assault by penetration of a girl under the age of 13. He denied the charges and triggered an extensive trial, but was found guilty.
Defending, Robert Griffiths, told the court that Hansford accepted he was going to prison for this serious offence. It was also noted that Hansford has ADHD and attempted self-harm.
He said: “It has to be a custodial sentence and it has to be a sentence of some length, but I do ask you to take into account that the conditions in prisons are still not particularly good.”
Judge Evans outlined how “vulnerable” the victim was. She added it was repeated behaviour and spoke of the distress he caused her family.
She said: “The effect on the victim and her mother has been one of huge distress. The girl is still very young at six and she has become frightened of men and in particular in fear of having to see you again.
“This court cannot know what the long-term impact will be but there is likely to be long-term impacts. You also caused huge distress to her mother. She blamed herself and she is not to blame in any way, but it is entirely human to blame oneself and ask oneself the question of ‘what if?’.”
As Judge Evans delivered her sentence, Hansford had his head in his hands and appeared to look emotional.
Hansford was sentenced to 15 years in prison and issued a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years and placed on the sex offenders register for life. Hansford was also issued a restraining order against his victim not to contact her directly or indirectly and was placed on a list of people barred from working with children.