Former officer jailed for sexually abusing girl

• ITV Wales' Richard Morgan reports from Newport Crown Court.

A judge had described the conduct of a former police officer convicted of sexual offences against a child as "odious and cynical." John Stringer was convicted of 5 counts relating to the sexual abuse of a child in September.

Handing down a ten year sentence, Judge Daniel Williams said that the 42 year old was "burdened only by self-pity" and posed an ongoing threat to female children.

A jury had previously found Stringer - a former PC with the Gwent force - guilty of two counts of sexual assault by touching and one charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was also found guilty of a further charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one charge of causing a child to watch a sexual act.

The trial had heard how the disgraced police officer had inappropriately touched the victim, aged below 13 at the time, under a blanket at his home while she and another child were playing video games.

He also showed her a video of an adult woman performing a sex act, before telling her to act out what she’d seen.

The offending happened between December 2019 and July 2021.

Today the court heard a victim impact statement read out by the child's mother. She described how the victim had had suicidal thoughts over what had happened, adding: "My old daughter has gone. I miss her deeply."

John Stringer was sentenced to 10 years in prison with one half to be served in prison.

He was also subjected to a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

T/Chief Constable Mark Hobrough said: "Former officer John Stringer was convicted of these despicable crimes by a jury and has been dismissed from our service due to his sickening actions.

"My thoughts go out to the victim in this case who has shown tremendous courage coming forward and reporting. We hope that the sentence will give them a sense of justice and help them in the process of moving forward with their lives.

"Stringer has not only broken the oath of a police officer, but he has also betrayed his colleagues and the community he was meant to serve.

“I know this case will impact the confidence that victims of sexual assault feel in coming forward to report to us. Stringer made his victim feel like she would not be believed, a common tactic of perpetrators of sexual abuse, but we hope that the outcome of this case shows that all reports of sexual assault will be taken seriously.

“There is no place in our organisation or our society for perpetrators of sexual abuse. Stringer’s actions do not reflect the values of our staff, many of whom work tirelessly to support victims and bring perpetrators of child sexual abuse to justice.”

In a statement read to the court by prosecutor Ian Wright, the victim's mother said: "This abuse has changed [the victim] who is living with lasting painful memories over a large part of her childhood. It's changed her outlook, the future seems less bright and uncertain."

She said her daughter had self harmed on a daily basis in order to "remove the feeling of hands from her body". The victim had also planned to end her life and had written letters to her friends and family, apologising but stating she was in "too much pain".

The mother added: "No matter how much we wrapped her arms around her and told her she was loved, she wouldn't believe it." She said the victim had blamed herself for the abuse and she was worried she would lose her daughter, with her parents taking turns to sit by her bed at night.

She added: "[The victim] shuts down and there is a darkness behind her eyes. She doesn't sleep, has nightmares and hears you calling her name and is terrified. She had to face a situation no child ever should.

"The old [victim's name] is gone and I miss her deeply. [The victim] as a child, as an individual and as a family have a long way to go to process events over the last few years to overcome the hurt and pain. Knowing justice has been served gives us the freedom to enjoy our lives."

Last month Stringer was dismissed from his job at Gwent Police for gross misconduct following an accelerated hearing.

His case has also been referred to the College of Policing in order for him to be placed on the Police barred list.

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