Newport Crown Court (Image: Anthony Morgan / Alamy)
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An 80-year-old woman has been sent to prison for sexually assaulting a young boy in the 1980s.
Hazel Templeton carried out the abuse against the underage teenager in the Caldicot area, Newport Crown Court heard.
A jury found her guilty of four counts of indecent assault on a male under 14 following a trial. She had denied all the charges and chose not to give evidence in her own defence.
The abuse
Prosecutor Jeffrey Jones told the court that Templeton had full sexual intercourse with the boy on two occasions. There was also sexual touching and oral sex performed by the complainant on her.
Victim’s words
In a victim impact statement, the man described the lasting damage the offences had caused him.
He said: “I feel an overwhelming sense of shame and loss after 40 years.
“It is impossible to quantify the damage the defendant has done to me and my family.”
He added that he had felt “confused” after the abuse and had thought about taking his own life.
Previous convictions
The court heard Templeton has a previous conviction for similar offences. She was jailed for 33 months at Belfast Crown Court last year after pleading guilty to four counts of indecent assault and three charges of inciting gross indecency with a child. Those were also historical sexual offences.
Defence arguments
Sol Hartley, defending, asked the court to consider that his client had been caring for her 90-year-old partner before she was remanded in custody. He said she also has her own health issues.
“The defendant knows that there is a significant risk that she will die in prison,” Mr Hartley told the court.
Sentencing
Judge Celia Hughes told Templeton: “These offences have had a profound psychological effect on your victim.
“There was a significant disparity in age.
“You were wholeheartedly disbelieved by the jury in Newport who convicted you unanimously.
“You exploited his innocence for your own sexual pleasure.”
The judge added that Templeton has expressed “no remorse” for what she had done.
Templeton, formerly of Ballyrainey Road, Comber, Newtownards, near Belfast, was jailed for three years and nine months. She must register as a sex offender indefinitely.
