Man found guilty of 10 sexual offences
Today (Tuesday 18 June 2024), the Royal Court found 49-year-old Richard Louis Romeril guilty of 10 sexual offences including attempted rape, sexual touching, and indecent assault. He will be sentenced later in the year.
Romeril committed the offences between March 2011 and March 2022, whereby he subjected a juvenile to sexual abuse over a long period of time. The abuse is understood to have happened almost weekly, progressively getting worse over time, and resulting in the attempted rape of his victim.
During a seven-day trial, the Court heard how Romeril had kept underwear from his victim over several years, from when they were a small child spanning through to their teenage years. These were found during a search of his bedroom, hidden under his mattress, and were shown to the Jury during trial.
Romeril was first arrested in March 2023 and, after an extensive investigation, was charged with the offences in September 2023. Prior to charge, Romeril failed to attend Police headquarters for charge, sparking and Island-wide search involving a number of emergency services.
During the investigation, a number of electrical devices were seized from Romeril, and these were examined. A large quantity of indecent images of children were found and Romeril was charged with these offences in September 2023. He pleaded guilty to four offences relating to the indecent images in December 2023 and will be sentenced for these offences later in the year.
Detective Constable Sian Dupre said: “This is a harrowing case of significant sexual abuse, and we welcome the jury’s guilty verdict. The victim in this case has shown incredible courage coming forward to Police, with Romeril’s constant denials in the face of overwhelming evidence only adding extra stress to the victim, so their resilience and strength should be commended.
“This case highlights the very challenging circumstances faced by many victims who have been subjected to sexual abuse. Although this was an historic event, the evidence was compelling, and the victim was given reassurance that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
“We are committed to investigating and prosecuting all sexual offenders no matter how long ago the offences occurred, and we want to assure victims that there are a number of agencies who are in a position to offer support and guidance through all stages of the criminal justice process.”
The States of Jersey Police continue to work with key partners and advocacy services such as the SARC at Dewberry House, JAAR and Freeda, to encourage victims of sexual crime to report such incidents.
There are several local agencies that offer advice and support:
- The SARC at Dewberry House provides expert independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 888222.
- Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) provide and maintain a supporting framework for survivors and their families. Tel: 01534 482801.
- Victims First Jersey is a free and independent service offering confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Tel: 0800 7351612.
- Freeda offers help and support for victims of domestic abuse. Tel: 0800 7356836.
