A 49-YEAR-OLD man who sexually abused a child over a ten-year period and went on the run has been sentenced to 16 years and six months in prison.
Richard Louis Romeril was found guilty of ten charges against the girl following a six-day trial in the Royal Court.
The offences include attempted rape, sexual touching without consent, forcing someone to engage in sex acts and indecent assaults.
Romeril failed to turn up to a police interview last year, and a major search-and-rescue mission was launched to find him.
Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, the police, search dogs, drones and a French Navy helicopter were all mobilised.
Romeril was eventually discovered in Route des Hêtres, in St Peter, by a police officer on patrol.
He was also sentenced on Friday for viewing indecent images of children online.
