POLICE investigating allegations of
child sex abuse carried out a series of raids in Hampshire this morning.
Officers involved in Operation Crossbow targeted 12 homes in the New Milton
area, plus a property outside the county.
The simultaneous raids were carried out at 7am following a lengthy
investigation ten detectives working full-time on the case.
Officers arrested a total of 12 people, who were taken to three separate
police stations in the county for questioning.
The allegations relate to sexual and physical abuse said to have been carried
out on male and female children in New Milton in the 1970s and 1980s.
A police spokesman said: "A number of people are alleged to have been the
victims of violence and sexual abuse at different stages in their lives, from
when they were very young through to adolescence.
"The abuse is alleged to have been carried out by people who were known to
their victims."
Police have been investigating the allegations since July this year, but
officers still need to hear from any witnesses or victims who have not yet
come forward.
Some of this morning's raids took place on the North Milton Estate. The arrest
outside the county was in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
A mobile police station is now in place on the estate, in the Nedderman Centre
car park, in Marryat Road, and will remain in place for 48 hours.
A special room, staffed by a police officer, will be set aside at New Milton
Town Hall for anyone who does not wish to visit a police station in connection
with the inquiry.
Leaflets urging people to come forward will be distributed to homes in several
streets on the estate.
http://www.thisissouthampton.co.uk/
Also
From the archive, first published
Thursday 3rd Aug 2000.
Child abuse ring
exposed
TWO DETECTIVES have been praised for cracking one of Hampshire's biggest child
abuse rings.
Four men, whose depravity shocked hardened police officers, are behind bars or
serving community service orders.
Another is due to be sentenced in three weeks' time.
Details of the incidents emerged after a series of court cases, which had
publicity bans imposed by a judge. Restrictions were finally lifted at
Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday.
The scandal was unearthed following months of painstaking work by Det Sgt
Jackie Rowlands and Det Con Terry Kimber. They have been commended by Chief
Constable Paul Kernaghan.
After the case Det Sgt Rowlands said: "These were horrific assaults. There
were lots of scared witnesses and it was traumatic recalling the events.
"They have been brave to give evidence and now feel it was worthwhile. They
felt relieved to be believed."
The incidents took place in Gosport. The results of the court cases are as
follows:
Ernest Bohea, 65, of Lawn Close, Gosport, received a nine- year prison stint
for rape and attempted rape.
Peter Sean Hicks, 30, of Dukes Road, Gosport, received 12 months jail after
being found guilty of two charges of indecent assault. He will be on the sex
offenders' register for ten years.
Bryan James Hicks, 24, of Dukes Road, admitted six charges of indecent assault
of girls under the age of 16. He received a three-year probation order.
Quarterly reports on him are also being sent to the trial judge.
Gary John Lucas, 41, of Beryton Road, Gosport, was found guilty of two charges
of rape and two of indecent assault. He was sent to jail for a total of 11
years. A jury found him not guilty of two counts of rape and one of indecent
assault. The judge ruled he should be on the sex offenders' register for an
indefinite period.
Peter Sydney Hicks, 60, of Dukes Road, was convicted of two charges of cruelty
to a child. He was found not guilty of ten charges of indecent assault. He
will be sentenced in three weeks.
In a separate case, two counts of cruelty to children were quashed and a not
guilty verdict returned on two other charges.
James Thornhill, 65, of Crossways, Gosport, was found not guilty on the
direction of the judge of ten counts of indecent assault and one of gross
indecency with a child under the age of 16. A not guilty verdict was re-turned
on a charge of adult rape.
Phyllis Joan Hicks, 57, of Dukes Road, was charged with 18 counts of the
willful neglect of a child. She died after her case was adjourned because of
ill health.
Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting
may have been lost in the conversion.
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