Wiltshire Police have commended a 14-year-old girl for her bravery in helping to convict a sex offender in Swindon. Kevin Wolton, 42, of Doulton Close, Redhouse, was sentenced to 29 months in prison at Swindon Crown Court on Monday, January 20, after admitting to sexually assaulting the teenager and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO)

The Incident On September 3, 2024, Wolton approached the girl in Brook Park, Redhouse. He made lewd and inappropriate comments before grabbing her and attempting to kiss her. The teenager immediately reported the incident to officers on patrol, leading to Wolton’s arrest on suspicion of sexual assault. Wolton’s SHPO, imposed in a prior conviction, prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 18 or lone women. He was also found guilty of breaching this order on two counts.

Praise for the Victim

PC Dominic Tonge from the Swindon North, East, and Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team commended the victim for her courage: *”The victim showed great courage throughout this case and was determined that Wolton should be punished to protect others. Her calm resolution to continue to seek justice despite her young age was impressive.”

Court Sentencing

Wolton initially denied the charges but later changed his plea to guilty. In addition to his prison sentence, the court heard about the breaches of his SHPO, which was designed to protect the public from further sexual harm.

Tougher Restrictions Requested

Wiltshire Police have requested additional restrictions to Wolton’s SHPO to further protect the public upon his release. The proposed changes include: – A ban on being within 100 meters of any children’s play park. – A restriction preventing Wolton from being within 100 meters of any school or college. – A prohibition on attending Redhouse Village Centre.

Police Commitment

PC Tonge emphasized the importance of SHPOs in public protection: *”We will continue to manage these orders robustly and ensure those who break them are brought before the courts.”

Community Safety

This case highlights the critical role that victims and the community play in holding offenders accountable. Police encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses inappropriate behavior to report it immediately.