Dominic Boultwood

Dominic Boultwood, 28, from Ladbrook Drive in Colchester, Essex, was convicted at Ipswich Crown Court for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in woodland near Bourne Valley nature reserve last May. As a registered sex offender, Boultwood was breaching strict court orders by approaching the girl while she was playing nearby. He struck up a conversation, convinced her to walk and talk with him, and then led her to a secluded area where he launched the attack.

Prosecutor Marc Brown detailed the incident, stating: "She said she was uncomfortable and began to cry. When the victim wanted to leave, the defendant told her she could go if she wanted and noticed she looked uncomfortable. She went to leave, and as she did so, Boultwood came up behind her and pulled her backwards, placing his hands over her mouth to quell any screams or shouts, and pulled her to the ground." Despite the girl's pleas for him to stop, Boultwood continued the assault and afterwards instructed her not to report what had happened.

Boultwood denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury in March this year on two counts of sexual assault and one count of possessing indecent images of children. Evidence presented included DNA from Boultwood found on the victim's clothing, confirmed by a forensic scientist. Boultwood had attempted to argue that the DNA could have resulted from his regular visits to the area, such as from urinating or defecating in the woods. Upon his arrest, police discovered indecent images on his device, including videos depicting attacks on children as young as three.

In mitigation, Rebecca Lee highlighted Boultwood's troubled background, including a disrupted childhood, time spent in care, diagnoses of ADHD and special educational needs, and complex PTSD stemming from an abusive experience with one of his mother's partners as a young child. The court was scheduled to hear further mitigation before sentencing Boultwood on Monday at Ipswich Crown Court. The case was reported by the Gazette and Herald, with coverage from reporter Claudia Bradley.