Basildon man sentenced for child sex offences

A man from Basildon has been jailed for nineteen and a half years for sexual offences against a child.

Steven Thomas, 51, of no fixed address, was sentenced for nine counts including sexual assault, multiple incidents of rape, taking indecent images of children and failing to comply with conditions of being on the sex offence register, at Basildon Crown Court today, Friday September 20

He previously pleaded guilty to the offences on Friday September 6.

He will be on the sex offenders register for life and has also been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevents him from having contact with children under the age of 18.

Thomas was arrested this summer following an investigation into offences that occurred between 2013 and 2019.

PC Leon Pezzuolo of Basildon’s Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “Thomas has committed some of the most vile offences against the most vulnerable of all victims in our community – a child.

“I want to praise the victim in this case for having the strength and courage to come forward and reporting their abuse. Because of their bravery an incredibly dangerous individual has been brought to justice.

“I hope that the bravery shown by this victim will encourage other victims of abuse to come forward and have the confidence to report it to us.”