Damien Saunders, a 40-year-old man from Pewsey, has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. Saunders, who resides at Meadow Court, was sentenced on October 4 at Swindon Crown Court, following an earlier guilty plea in August.
The court heard that between April and July 2024, Saunders intentionally arranged or facilitated actions that would involve the commission of an offence under section 9 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, specifically involving sexual activity with a child.
In addition to his prison sentence, Saunders has been issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, effective for 10 years, and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for the same duration.
Trainee Detective Constable Daniel Smith, who led the investigation, stressed the importance of supporting victims and survivors of sexual exploitation. “We take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously,” he said, encouraging anyone affected to come forward.
For those who suspect child exploitation or believe someone is at risk, Wiltshire Police encourages visiting their “How to Report Possible Child Abuse” page or calling their non-emergency number at 101. For immediate dangers, the public is urged to call 999.
More information on child sexual exploitation and support options can be found on the Wiltshire Police website.