Victim urges others to come forward

A 66 year-old Bride man has begun a four year jail term, after yesterday being found guilty of indecently assaulting a child in the 1980s.

Stuart Clayton Christian had denied the 12 charges he faced, but the jury disagreed and reached unanimous 'guilty' verdicts on all of them.

Graham Bell reports:

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Acting Deemster Peter Birkett gave Christian two, three and four year sentences - to run concurrently - for the different types of specimen charges he faced.

Mr Birkett said prison would punish Christian for what he had done and hoped it would deter others from carrying out similar offences.

A Victim Support worker read out a prepared statement on his victim's behalf.

She hoped what she had done would give others who were suffering abuse now or, like her, had done so the past, the courage to come forward and report it, and realise people would believe them.


(Picture: Douglas Courthouse, where Stuart Clayton Christian was sentenced).