Tidworth man jailed for sexual abuse of two girls
Semi Tuilovoni Lave has been sentenced to 15 years in prison
31 year old Semi Tuilovoni Lave, from Tidworth, has been handed a 15 year jail term today (Thursday 3rd February) after being found guilty of numerous offences.
A four day trial at Salisbury Crown Court saw him convicted of six counts of rape of a child and one count of sexual assault of a child by touching.
His offences took place over a number of years and came to light in July 2020 when the victims came forward.
Detective Constable Claire Heathcote, from Wiltshire Police’s Public Protection Department, said:
“We know how incredibly difficult it can be for victims of sexual abuse to tell someone about what has been happening to them, especially when the victims are children.
“Once these girls took the very brave step of reporting these horrendous crimes, we have worked hard to ensure they have been able to receive the relevant help and support they need, particularly when they had to re-live that abuse giving evidence in court due to the fact that Lave refused to admit his actions.
“We welcome the verdict in this case and today’s sentence and I hope it provides some reassurance to the victims that justice has now been done.
“I also hope it gives others the confidence to speak out if they have been the victim of similar crimes. If you don’t yet feel ready to speak to the police, then please just tell someone you trust. There is help out there and you don’t have to suffer in silence.”
SEEK HELP IF NEEDED
Wiltshire Police is calling on any victims of sexual offences to get in touch with them.
You can call 101, or if it's an emergency, dial 999.
There's also support available from the county's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, by calling 01793 781916.
More information can be found on the Wiltshire Police website too.