Thomas Wadsworth

Thomas Wadsworth, aged 54, has been jailed for six years following his conviction for serious sexual offences committed against a young child in 1990. At the time of the offences, Wadsworth was in his early 20s and abused a victim who was very young, causing her serious and lasting effects that persisted into adulthood.

The case came to light in 2022 when the victim-survivor bravely came forward to report the abuse to Cleveland Police. Detectives from the Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults (CAVA) unit provided immediate specialist support to the woman as their investigation began. Despite the significant challenges posed by the passage of over three decades, officers meticulously gathered evidence and secured charges against Wadsworth last summer.

Wadsworth was tried at Teesside Crown Court, where he was found guilty earlier this month of gross indecency with a child and indecent assault on a child. He returned to court on Friday, 20 September 2024, for sentencing, where Judge [name not specified] handed down the six-year custodial sentence. CAVA Detective Constable Suzanne Higginson praised the victim's courage, stating: 'Growing up, the victim-survivor suffered serious and lasting effects from the horrendous abuse she suffered decades before but she found the courage to come forward to report - and her support for the police investigation was unwavering.' Higginson further noted: 'I hope the fact that Wadsworth was found guilty and will now spend many years in prison is of some comfort to this brave woman as she continues to process what she went through as a very young child.'

CAVA Detective Chief Inspector Matt Murphy King emphasised the police's commitment to justice, saying: 'Wadsworth probably believed he would never be held to account for his heinous actions all those years ago, but from the moment the victim-survivor reported what he had done we were determined to do everything possible to get justice for her. We will always listen to anyone who comes forward to report any kind of abuse and we will believe them. Victim-survivors can also expect support from police or local expert agencies throughout our enquiries, during the court process and afterwards.' This case, reported by Cleveland Police on 23 September 2024, underscores the ongoing efforts to address historical child sexual abuse and deliver accountability, no matter how much time has passed.