Geoffrey Lewis

Geoffrey Lewis, a 53-year-old man formerly from Waldringfield, Suffolk, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for multiple sexual offences against three young schoolgirls. The case, heard at Ipswich Crown Court, involved assaults committed between 2013 and 2017, highlighting Lewis's predatory behaviour towards children.

The offences included four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, one count of sexual activity with a child, and taking an indecent image of a child. Initially denying the charges, Lewis changed his pleas to guilty during his trial in February. On 30 May 2022, Judge Emma Peters sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment with an extended licence period of five years, describing him as a 'danger to children'. She stipulated that he must serve at least six years before the parole board could consider his release.

During the sentencing hearing, which was conducted via prison video link, Lewis appeared to faint as a victim impact statement was read aloud, prompting a brief adjournment for medical attention. The court heard detailed accounts of his actions: Lewis touched the girls on their breasts and inside their underwear, complimented a 14-year-old girl by calling her 'beautiful' while placing his hand inside her underwear, and assaulted her further by touching her breasts during a computer game and her bottom and between her legs while filming. He also attempted to put his hand inside the underwear of an 11-year-old girl and later apologised, warning her of the trouble he would face if she told anyone. Additionally, he secretly took a photograph of one victim in the shower without her knowledge.

The father of one victim expressed outrage in a statement, criticising Lewis's 'lack of courage, moral integrity and remorse' and noting that he only pleaded guilty after the victims had testified. Lewis, now residing in Briton Way, Wymondham, Norfolk, received a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders' register for life. He was also banned indefinitely from contacting the three victims.

Defence counsel Simon Gladwell noted that Lewis had no prior convictions for similar offences and had not reoffended in the four years awaiting trial. The case was reported by the East Anglian Daily Times, with Suffolk Constabulary providing imagery and details of the proceedings.