Man sentenced to 20 years for multiple sex offences

A man in his 60s has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple sexual offences dating back to 2000.

Quintino Gomes, aged 65 and of Rue de la Graviere, Cluny, France appeared at Norwich Crown Court last week (Friday 15 March 2024) after pleading not guilty to eight sexual offences. Following a 10-day trial, he was convicted of all eight counts by a unanimous jury. The offences included four counts of rape of a woman, two counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16, indecent assault of a girl under the age of 16 and inciting a girl under the age of 16 to commit an act of gross indecency. He has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and placed on the Sexual Offenders Register for life.

The incidents involved two victims and occurred between 2000 and 2001. Gomes abused a position of trust over an extended period of time, inflicting abuse on several occasions.

A victim’s personal statement, read aloud in court, detailed the impact Gomes has had on their life, saying: ‘We were robbed of a childhood and I have had a lifelong feeling of shame and embarrassment. I want my leave these feelings of shame behind me. I did nothing wrong and I did not deserve what happened to me.’

A second victim commented: ‘Since I was a child, I was made to believe that I wasn’t worthy of love, I have questioned myself on everything including what I did to deserve such treatment. The aftermath has had an enormous impact throughout my life.’

Speaking following the sentencing, Detective Constable Natalie Riseborough said, “No sentence will ever resolve the trauma inflicted on these victims by Gomes but I do hope this sentence provides them with some level of closure after all these years.

“I would like to commend them for their bravery in coming forward and encourage anyone else in a similar position to do so. It does not matter how long ago the abuse occurred, we will always investigate.”

Anyone who has experienced sexual abuse can contact Norfolk Constabulary on 999 in an emergency or 101 for non-emergency calls.

You can also report online here: Report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences | Norfolk Constabulary

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