POLICE have praised the “extraordinary bravery” of a survivor of child sexual abuse for coming forward.
This comes as 49-year-old Richard Louis Romeril, who sexually abused a child over a ten-year period, and went on the run, has been jailed for 16 years and six months.
He was found guilty of ten charges against the girl following a six-day trial in the Royal Court in June.
The offences included attempted rape, sexual touching without consent, forcing someone to engage in sex acts and indecent assaults.
He was also found to have 4,233 indecent or prohibited images of children.
Following Romeril’s sentencing, the States police praised the “extraordinary bravery of the survivor, who courageously came forward to make the complaint”.
Romeril was first arrested in March 2023 but before he could be charged he went on the run, sparking a major manhunt.
Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, the police, search dogs, drones and a French Navy helicopter were all mobilised in the attempt to find him.
He was eventually discovered in Route des Hêtres in St Peter by a police officer on patrol.
Advocate Emma Hollywood, prosecuting, called it “systematic sexual abuse”.
She added that Romeril’s not-guilty plea forced the victim to undergo the ordeal of a trial, which the advocate said showed “a significant lack of remorse”.
Romeril pleaded guilty to the charges relating to the indecent images in December 2023.
Advocate Hollywood said Romeril was considered at high risk of reconviction and recommended a sentence of 17 years and six months.
Advocate Mike Preston, defending, said his client had written a letter of remorse over the indecent images but still denied the sexual assault offences.
Advocate Hollywood highlighted positive character references from Romeril’s family and family friends.
The Jurats sentenced Romeril to 15 years and six months for the assaults and a consecutive year for downloading the indecent images.
The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, added that they were imposing a restraining order banning Romeril from having any direct or indirect contact with the victim for an indeterminate period.
Jurats Christensen, Austin-Vautier, Le Cornu, Entwistle and Berry were sitting.
