Man jailed after sexual assault on two brothers in Wiltshire 40 years ago
The case was reopened a few years ago
A man has been convicted and jailed after sexually assaulting two young brothers in Wiltshire more than 40 years ago.
Stefon Francis Winter, who is now 70 years old, was this week found guilty of two counts of indecency and two counts of gross indecency.
On the evening of Sunday the 15th June, 1980, Winter assaulted two children in the changing rooms of Highbury Football Field in Warminster.
The brothers had been playing football together when they were led away by Winter and attacked.
Back then, DNA technology was not available so the incident was reported to police and clothing was seized.
In 2016, the incident was selected for a cold case review with the advances in technology available to the force.
The items were re-examined and Winter's DNA was found one of the brothers' clothes and he was arrested from his home address in Goatacre, Calne.
After protracted further enquiries, he was subsequently charged with the offences as they would have been in 1980.
He pleaded not guilty in court, however, on Friday (10th September) a jury convicted him of all four counts and he was jailed for a total of three years.
Detective Inspector Tom Straker, from Central CID, said:
“This was a horrible, traumatic assault which understandably had a long-lasting impact on the two victims.
“Not only did they have to re-live the incident when the cold case was reopened, but they had to hear it all again in court due to Winter refusing to admit what he had done.
“I hope this conviction shows that no unsolved case of this nature is completely closed and that we will continue to fight to get justice for victims.”
It's the second time recently that a Wiltshire cold case has been re-examined and been helped by the advances in DNA technology.
It's after Kenneth Wells pleaded guilty to a serious sexual assault in Collingbourne Ducis in 1980.
Detective Constable Chris McLoughlin, the officer in the case, added:
“I want to pay tribute to the two victims in this case and thank them for the bravery they have shown in supporting the police throughout this investigation. Furthermore, to the scientists and archivists nationally who have so professionally made this possible.
“Winter is a dangerous offender, who has escaped justice for more than 40 years and I welcome this conviction which will see him put behind bars and ensure he no longer poses any risk to the public.
"Regardless of the passage of time, we will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice. Let this be a warning to anyone else out there who has committed offences and has, so far, evaded the law.”
Wiltshire Police would always urge victims of sexual offences to report these to the police. You can do this by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.