Man jailed for child sex offences in South West
60 year-old Anthony Dugard was arrested in Swindon in July.
A 60-year-old man has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of nine child sexual abuse offences in the South West.
Anthony Dugard was arrested in Swindon in July where he’d travelled to meet who he thought was a child - but was met by police.
Dugard, of Park Drive in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Friday - he was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
In her personal impact statement, the victim’s mother said: “It makes me so sad that she has been through this and I’m so sorry that I couldn’t protect her.
"The actions of this man have caused me to feel like I have let my daughter down massively and for that I am truly sorry. I am so proud of her and the fact that she has taken the big step of voicing her truths and telling the police what happened to her and take comfort in knowing that she can now find peace and start her healing process, knowing that the wrongs will be righted.
“She has made me very proud by speaking out and in knowing that she will have helped many others in doing so.”
DI David Wells from SWROCU said: “Dugard has caused substantial suffering to the victim and her family and I thank her for speaking up about his predatory behaviour. He poses a significant risk to children and I welcome the sentence handed down to him today.”