Stowmarket paedophile given 17-year jail term for abuse of children as young as six
A Stowmarket man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexually abusing two children over a decade – with the offences beginning when he himself was 14 years old.
The details: Scott Lawrence-Bayly, 28, of Bridge Street, Stowmarket, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 13 December.
- He will serve 17 years in custody, followed by an extended licence period of five years
- His offences spanned a 10-year period, beginning when he was 14 years old
- The first victim was eight years old at the time of the abuse
- Further offences were committed when Lawrence-Bayly was an adult against a six-year-old victim
What they're saying: Detective Constable Sam Chandler from the Safeguarding Investigation Unit called the crimes "truly abhorrent," noting that "although they began when he himself was a child, they continued into adulthood."
The sentence breakdown:
- 17 years custodial sentence
- Additional five-year extended licence period after release
- Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life
The judge's view: The court described Lawrence-Bayly as a "dangerous offender who has a significant sexual interest in children."
The bottom line: Despite the offences beginning when Lawrence-Bayly was a teenager, the severity of his crimes and their continuation into adulthood led to a substantial prison sentence, reflecting what police called the "devastating" impact on his victims.
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