Locations
Byfield Road, Isleworth, Hounslow, TW7
Description
A man has been sentenced to 17 years imprisonment at Portsmouth Crown Court today after being found guilty of 11 non-recent child sex offences in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Chris Cotton, 64, of Byfield Road in Hounslow was convicted on Wednesday 16 September of the 11 offences committed between 1977 and 1985, involving three people who were aged between 3 and 11 years-old at the time.
The majority of the offences took place in Leigh Park, Havant, where Cotton resided at the time, with others taking place at an address in Twickenham, Richmond-on-Thames.
An investigation was launched by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s specialist Operation Amberstone team, following which Cotton was charged in 2023 with the following offences:
- Two counts of rape of a female child
- Six counts of indecent assault of a female person under the age of 14
- Three counts of indecency with a child (inciting a child under the age of 14 to engage in an act of gross indecency)
Cotton pleaded not guilty to the offences, but following an eight-day trial, a jury found him guilty on all counts.
He was sentenced today (Friday 18 September) to 17 years imprisonment, with a further year on extended licence when released. Upon release, he will be subject to lifelong restraining orders against all three victims and has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.
The officer in the case, DS Hollie Shelton said:
“The trail of devastation that Cotton has left in his wake is truly appalling. I am very glad to see him be locked up where he can no longer harm vulnerable members of the public.
“This result is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the victims, who, despite delays in the court process, remained strong in their pursuit of justice after suffering lifelong effects of his abuse.
“Even though no length of sentence could make up for the severe suffering he has caused to these victims throughout their lives, I hope it goes some way to providing closure and a feeling that justice has been finally been served.
“I also hope that this result will give them the ability to begin to rebuild their lives, knowing that the man who took advantage of them as vulnerable young children for his own sexual gratification is now facing a significant period of time behind bars.
“Convictions of this nature show that it is never too late to come forward to police. There are a number of reasons why people do not report to police or to others what happened to them and delays in reporting are not a barrier to seeking justice later in life.
“Allegations of this nature are taken very seriously and will be thoroughly investigated.”