Woman who abused 12-year-old boy in 1984 is jailed

A 79-year-old woman who sexually abused a child four decades ago has been jailed for two years and nine months.

Hazel Templeton, from Ballyrainey Road in Comber, pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault and three counts of inciting gross indecency with a child.

Belfast Crown Court was told the offences were committed between 1 July and 31 August 1984. Templeton was 39 when she abused the then 12-year old boy.

Following the sentencing, Templeton's victim said she had stolen his childhood.

Police said Templeton was a "child predator who took advantage of a young boy who trusted her".

Despite her guilty pleas, the court heard she has engaged in "victim-blaming" in a bid to justify her behaviour.

She told a probation officer the boy was "physically mature for his age" and that she "hoped he would view the sexual behaviour as a rite of passage and helping him to gain sexual experience".

As he jailed the mother-of-two, a judge said Templeton had "acted for sexual gratification and took advantage of a child".

A prosecution barrister told the judge that the victim may have "welcomed" Templeton's attention when he was a 12-year old boy, but he did not have "the capacity to consent" due to his age.

The barrister also spoke of the lasting impact the abuse has had upon the victim - who attended the hearing via videolink - and said what happened to him as a child had "cast a shadow over his entire life".

A defence barrister spoke of the negative impact that a period of custody would have on not just his elderly client but also her 89-year old partner.

He said Templeton told a probation officer that when she met the boy on several occasions prior to the offences, she was not initially attracted to him but after he initiated sexual contact, this made her feel "attractive and desired".

The defence barrister accepted these remarks indicated "delusional" thinking on her part.

He added that her guilty pleas meant the injured party had been "given the validation that he has craved over the years" and that she had a completely clear criminal record.

However, the judge told the pensioner: "Your offending is so serious that neither a fine nor a community sentence would be justified and only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate."

As well as being jailed, Templeton was also placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

The victim of Templeton's abuse said: "For so many years all I felt was absolute confusion. The basis of any childhood is that you can trust adults.

"The need to keep a secret of that magnitude from friends and family led to me shutting down.

"She stole my childhood, she is charged with abuse offences, but I see it as theft."

He said he wanted to send a message to other male victims of sexual abuse - to tell them "you are not alone".

"Justice can enable you to start to process what has happened to you. It shows that other members of your society, having heard your story, have absolved you of those feelings that weighed you down," he said.

"Justice allows you to start to accept what has happened and to rebuild your life. The hardest part for me was admitting that I was a victim."

Det Con Douglas said: "Reports of non-recent child abuse in Northern Ireland are on the rise as more and more people break their silence and come forward.

"We would ask people not to keep the secrets of your abuser.

"We will continue to work around the clock to bring child predators before the courts and would encourage anyone who may have been abused in a similar way to come forward."