Thomas Sean McCarthy

Thomas Sean McCarthy, a 37-year-old man from Cromer Road in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has been imprisoned for sexually assaulting two young girls in a shocking opportunist attack. The incident occurred on 1 April 2018, when the mother of the victims, aged four and six, left them briefly in McCarthy's care while she visited a nearby shop. Taking advantage of the situation, McCarthy assaulted the girls, leading to his arrest and subsequent charges.

At Northampton Crown Court, McCarthy admitted to four counts of sexual assault and one count of possessing indecent images of children. The court heard details of the violent nature of the assaults, which took place in the Wellingborough area. Presiding over the case, the judge sentenced McCarthy to six years and eight months in prison, recognising the severity of the offences against vulnerable children. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for life, ensuring long-term monitoring to protect the public.

DC Cathy O'Connor, from the child protection team at Northamptonshire Police, welcomed the sentence in a statement following the hearing. 'This was an opportunist and violent sexual assault on two young girls whose mother had entrusted the defendant to look after while she went to a local shop,' she said. 'He is a danger to children and this sentence will remove that threat for some years to come. His two victims have been incredibly brave considering their ordeal. They have helped detectives throughout the investigation and are continuing to receive support.' The investigation was led by Northamptonshire Police, who emphasised the bravery of the young victims in aiding the case.

The case underscores the importance of vigilance in protecting children from predators, with McCarthy's actions highlighting the risks posed by individuals in positions of temporary trust. Sources close to the case, including official police statements and court records, confirm the details of the assault and the possession of indecent images, which further compounded the charges against him.