Terence Peter Price

A 66-year-old man from Winchester, Terence Peter Price, of Romsey Road, has been imprisoned for 15 years following his conviction on 13 counts of child sex offences at Southampton Crown Court. The case, which involved the sexual abuse of a young girl from Hedge End, came to a conclusion after a ten-day trial, with Price found guilty on Friday, 26 January 2024. Sentencing occurred on Thursday, 15 February 2024, where the court imposed a custodial term requiring him to serve at least ten years before any possibility of parole.

The offences took place over a five-year period in Hedge End, from April 2016 to April 2021. At the time of the first incident, the victim was just ten years old. Price's actions were described as being for his own sexual gratification, showing no regard for the profound and lasting impact on the child. The abuse was reported to the police in June 2021, prompting a thorough investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department.

Detective Constable Mark Gallagher, leading the investigation, commended the victim's courage in coming forward. In a statement, he said: "It took a lot of courage and bravery for the victim to come forward and make these disclosures to us. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for her. She fully supported our investigation and with the strength of the evidence against him Price’s account was rejected by the jury." Gallagher further noted that Price abused the girl without a moment’s thought for her well-being, and expressed hope that the sentence would allow her to move forward, knowing he can no longer harm other children.

In addition to the 15-year prison sentence, Price will be subject to a restraining order and must serve an extended year on licence upon release. The case was prosecuted under the jurisdiction of Hampshire Constabulary, highlighting their commitment to addressing child sex offences seriously. This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the long-term effects of such crimes and the importance of victims reporting incidents to ensure justice is served.