A Wiltshire man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a child more than three decades after she first reported it.
Stefon Winter, 72, of Goatacre, stood before Swindon Crown Court in a four-day trial from March 18 and was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault by penetration.
In 1989, Winter sexually assaulted a young child at an address in Wiltshire on two separate occasions.
Jurors heard a clip of the victim giving evidence to police of the alleged abuse which took place when she was just five years old.
The victim said Winter touched her inappropriately and penetrated her with his fingers on two occasions in the bath and in bed.
“The first incident allegedly took place in the bath when the victim was only five years old," explained prosecutor Alexandra Bull.
“In the second incident later that day, she claims to have fallen asleep for a short time and she said Mr Winter then put one hand around her waist and put his other hand into her underwear."
Nearly three decades on from that video, and 35 years on from the alleged sexual assault, the victim took to the stand in Swindon.
“I believe when I gave my interview in 1995, aged 11, I had spent almost six years trying to forget what had happened," she told the court.
“Since then, I have spent the best part of 30 years trying to remember.”
Detective Constable Chris McLoughlin praised the victim's courage, stating: “Nigh on 35 years have passed with the victim having to live with the impacts of Winter’s behaviour, but her voice has still been heard.
“The victim in this case has shown great courage in reporting the ordeal she went through as a very young child to police, and supporting the matter through the court process,"
"Her strength in backing a prosecution, has enabled police to protect the public by putting a sex offender before the courts for sentencing.
"Not only has this helped to finally provide her with justice and at least a degree of closure, we both hope that her speaking out will empower others to come forward and report their experiences to police.
Winter will remain in custody until July, when he is due to be sentenced.
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