Connor Chard

A 22-year-old man from Yeovil was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting sexual offences against two young girls. Connor Chard appeared at Taunton Crown Court, sitting at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday, April 14, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13 and a further count of the same offence against a second child.

Both victims were aged just seven when the abuse began at addresses in Yeovil. The court heard that Chard subjected one girl to repeated sexual assaults between 2019 and 2022. The second victim disclosed an assault that occurred in 2024, prompting her family to contact the police.

DC Kerrie Paxton of Avon and Somerset Police said: “It’s clear Chard was an opportunist who took advantage of children he abused after meeting them at properties he visited, and poses a danger to young girls. Both young victims in this case bravely came forward independently of each other to report their abuse, showing tremendous strength and courage throughout the investigation and court process.”

Victim impact statements from the girls’ mothers were read out in court. One mother described the psychological harm, stating: “You didn’t just harm her in a single moment – you changed how she saw the world. A child should feel safe, and because of your actions, that sense of safety was taken away.” The other mother said: “Our daughter has had a huge part of her childhood completely ruined. What every other family takes for granted has been stolen from us … No child should feel permanently vulnerable, and no mother should feel so helpless to protect their daughter.”

His Honour Judge Cook commended the children and their parents for their bravery and acknowledged the lasting impact of Chard’s actions. Alongside the four-year prison term, the judge imposed a one-year extended licence on release and a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.