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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/07/willy-gillham-jailed-sexual-abuse-childrens-home-romsey-hampshire
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Ex-staff member of Hampshire children’s home jailed for abuse | Ex-staff member of Hampshire children’s home jailed for abuse |
| (4 months later) | |
| Willy Gillham, 64, sentenced to 15 years for serious sexual offences against boy at Palmerston House in Romsey in the 1980s | |
| Press Association | |
| Sat 7 Oct 2017 12.55 BST | |
| Last modified on Sat 7 Oct 2017 16.55 BST | |
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| A former staff member at a children’s home has been jailed for 15 years for child abuse dating back to the 1980s. | A former staff member at a children’s home has been jailed for 15 years for child abuse dating back to the 1980s. |
| Willy Gillham was sentenced at Southampton crown court after being found guilty of four counts of serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16. | Willy Gillham was sentenced at Southampton crown court after being found guilty of four counts of serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16. |
| The court heard the 64-year-old Gillham, from Deux-Sèvres in France, had committed offences including rape and indecent assault at the former Palmerston House children’s home in Romsey, Hampshire, during the 1980s. | The court heard the 64-year-old Gillham, from Deux-Sèvres in France, had committed offences including rape and indecent assault at the former Palmerston House children’s home in Romsey, Hampshire, during the 1980s. |
| DI Toby Elcock of Hampshire police said: “To come forward and speak to police more than 30 years after being subjected to such a horrific level of offending takes remarkable bravery and courage. | DI Toby Elcock of Hampshire police said: “To come forward and speak to police more than 30 years after being subjected to such a horrific level of offending takes remarkable bravery and courage. |
| “I have great admiration for the victim who helped bring this man to justice, and I hope this encourages other members of the community who have suffered in silence to make that step in speaking to our detectives.” | “I have great admiration for the victim who helped bring this man to justice, and I hope this encourages other members of the community who have suffered in silence to make that step in speaking to our detectives.” |
| An NSPCC spokeswoman added: “Gillham’s victim was in a setting which should have been entirely safe. Instead they were betrayed in the worst possible way by someone who should have been protecting them from harm. | An NSPCC spokeswoman added: “Gillham’s victim was in a setting which should have been entirely safe. Instead they were betrayed in the worst possible way by someone who should have been protecting them from harm. |
| “His victim may have waited a long time for justice, but it is in part thanks to their bravery that Gillham was brought before the courts; solid proof that it is never too late to speak out about past abuse. | “His victim may have waited a long time for justice, but it is in part thanks to their bravery that Gillham was brought before the courts; solid proof that it is never too late to speak out about past abuse. |
| “Sexual abuse ruins childhoods and the devastating effects can last into adulthood without the right support. We hope the victim in this case has received the available help so they can move forward with their lives.” | “Sexual abuse ruins childhoods and the devastating effects can last into adulthood without the right support. We hope the victim in this case has received the available help so they can move forward with their lives.” |
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