July 1, 2016 2.35 pm This story is over 92 months old

Former RAF corporal from Lincolnshire jailed for sexually assaulting girl, four

A former RAF corporal was on Friday, July 1 jailed for four years after being convicted of sexually assaulting a four year old girl. Simon Horton, who served in the Falklands War and the first Gulf War, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.…
Lincoln Crown Court. Photo: The Lincolnite

A former RAF corporal was on Friday, July 1 jailed for four years after being convicted of sexually assaulting a four year old girl.

Simon Horton, who served in the Falklands War and the first Gulf War, was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Horton, 54, of Elizabeth Avenue, Tattershall Bridge, had denied six charges of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13 and a further charge of causing or inciting a child to be involved in sexual activity but was found guilty by a jury at Lincoln Crown Court following a trial.

Judge Simon Hirst, passing sentence, told Horton: “Your victim was four years old at the time of the offences against her. This has had a significant impact on her parents.”

Stephen Kemp, prosecuting, said that Horton carried out the offences on three occasions during 2015.

He told the court: “Because she was only four at the time she was particularly vulnerable. He was telling her to keep it a secret.”

Mr Kemp said that the father of the victim has since been diagnosed as suffering from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of what happened and both he and his wife have been given counselling.

Mark Watson, in mitigation, said that Horton had no previous convictions.

He said: “He served in the forces for a number of years. He was a corporal and was acting sergeant at the time of his discharge.

“He served in Germany, the Falklands including the Falklands War, the first Gulf War and in Croatia. He has worked constantly since being discharged from the military.

“He is a man for whom the loss of his good character is significant. This will be the first time he has had a custodial sentence and the impact of that cannot be under-estimated.”