West Country man sentenced to five years for historic sexual abuse
Raymond Poyner, originally from Cornwall and now from Weston-super-Mare, groomed and sexually assaulted two boys in the 1970s and 1980s
A Somerset man has been sentenced for non-recent indecent assaults on children.
Raymond Poyner, 73, was sentenced on Friday 5 January for sexual abuse he carried out on two boys in the 1970s and 1980s.
The two men, who are now both in their 50s, said their memories of the abuse they were subjected to will never ‘go away’.
Poyner, from Weston-super-Mare, worked as a residential social worker in the 1970s in Cornwall where he groomed and sexually assaulted a boy in his care at a children’s care home.
When informed by police that Poyner had pleaded guilty shortly before a trial was due to begin, the man who was abused broke down in tears.
In a victim statement, prepared for the sentencing hearing, he said: “Since my childhood, what Poyner did to me sticks in my mind, it consumes a lot of my thinking and the way I view my life.
“I still have no trust in anyone, and even after all this time, I find it difficult to form relationships. I just cannot allow anyone to get close to me; I cannot take people into my confidence.
“Now Poyner has been sentenced there is some closure to this episode. Having said that, I don’t think I will ever put behind me the thoughts of what Poyner put me through.”
Poyner subsequently moved to the Axbridge area where in the 1980s he indecently assaulted a second boy.
He was sentenced at North Somerset Courthouse, due to Taunton Crown Court’s unavailability, to a total of five years and one month in prison. Poyner remains subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and barred from ever working with children.
The judge, Recorder Jaron Crooknorth, stated Poyner was a predatory offender who abused a position of trust to groom young boys.
DC Mike Tarling said: “Raymond Poyner sexually abused two children the best part of 50 years ago but the impact of his crimes continues to be felt by those two men.
“Both have shown incredible strength and courage to report what happened. Without that, Poyner would never have been brought before the courts again. Poyner was convicted of a similar offence in the 1980s involving a different child and his clear predatory behaviour led to him more recently being made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
“We hope the conclusion of these proceedings after several years of investigation and court hearings helps both men to move forward with their lives, with the ongoing support of their families and friends. But we should not pretend it wipes away the pain they continue to experience.”
DC Tarling added: “Investigating non-recent sexual abuse is among the most challenging enquiries we face, but cases like this show abusers can be brought to justice no matter how much time has passed.
“We urge anyone who have been abused to report what happened to us, no matter when it happened.
“You will be believed, your report will be taken seriously and we will focus on bringing the perpetrator to justice.”