A 46-year-old man has been found guilty and convicted by a jury on two counts of assault of a girl by penetration, one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of voyeurism.
Arlanzo Sherwood was found guilty following a nine-day trial at Basildon Crown Court.
He was cleared on two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual activity with a child.
Arlanzo Sherwood
Arlanzo Sherwood - Jailed
Essex Police’s Quest team, who investigate sexual offence reports where the victim was a child at the time of the offence but is now an adult, started making enquiries in July 2019 after receiving reports from a family friend of the survivor.
Following a two-and-a-half-year investigation, where Sherwood either refused to comment or denied the allegations, he was charged in October 2021.
In court the survivor, who is now in her 20s, told the jury about the abuse she had suffered at the hands of the defendant.
She had kept it a secret but told a friend and then her mum what had happened to her. Sherwood was confronted by her horrified mum, and the allegations were reported to police.
Sherwood of Clayburn Circle, Basildon, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for both assault charges, which will run concurrently.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison for the sexual activity offence and 18 months in prison for voyeurism. These will run concurrently with the 11 years sentences.
He was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
After the victim impact statement was read to the court, HHJ Judge Richard Conley thanked the survivor for her bravery and noted the arduous trial.
He also acknowledged the “professionalism” “hard work” and “diligence” of Essex Police’s Detective Constable Chris Sedgwick.
Investigating Officer - Detective Constable Chris Sedgwick said: "I would firstly like to pay tribute to the survivor in this case.
"She has shown incredible fortitude and bravery throughout the investigation and the protracted court process.
"Not only did she come forward and tell someone what had happened to her but managed the process with incredible dignity.
"Sherwood committed heinous offences against a vulnerable child and is now rightly serving a long prison sentence.
"At Essex Police, we will fully investigate all allegations reported to us and I hope this case helps encourage others who have suffered similar offences, recent or not, to come forward.
"You will be listened to; you will be supported and specially trained officers will be there throughout the process.
"We do not underestimate how difficult it is to come forward and I want to assure all survivors of abuse that we will do all we can to secure justice."
The survivor said: "This has been hanging over me for a long time, but I’m so grateful to the officers at Essex Police and the friend I confided in, who have supported me throughout.
"I just want to get on with my life, build some emotional resilience and a future with my family and friends. Securing justice will certainly help me with that."
She added: "Telling the right person has made all the difference to my life. I never thought I would tell anyone, but I have had incredible support.
"The independent sexual violence advisors were there throughout this horrendous time and I’m really grateful to them for their understanding and patience."
Synergy Essex - a partnership of three services: Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (CARA), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis), supported the victim.
The services provided by Synergy Essex are independent of the police, and further information is available at: https://synergyessex.org.uk/