Former Mayor Jailed for Child Sex Offenses

Simon Thornton, a former Mayor of Godalming, Surrey, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for child sex offenses against a 13-year-old girl.

Thornton, 46, who was a Conservative councillor, groomed the girl with sweets and a high-end mobile phone over a three-year period, Guildford Crown Court heard. He admitted to 22 child sex offenses, including sexual relations with the girl when she was aged between 13 and 15. He denied two other counts of paying for sex and producing child pornography.

The court heard how Thornton engaged in sexual activity with the teenager in various locations, including their homes, an office, the woods, and a van. He even had her sleep next to him and his now ex-wife in an attempt to normalize his behavior.

During the police investigation, officers discovered condoms under the floorboards of Thornton's office in the butcher shop he owned at the time.

Investigating officer police constable Tamzin Ede said: "Simon Thornton displayed predatory behaviour to abuse a child for a prolonged period. He clearly believed he would get away with this offending given how long it carried on and has now rightly been jailed for his abhorrent crimes. Simon Thornton's crimes have impacted the victim through her childhood and into adult life, the offending against her have caused low confidence, depression and difficulties in building new trusted relationships."

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court in a statement how she felt "safe" in Thornton's company and struggled to form new friendships. She described how she had "suffered with depression" and "isolates" herself.

Thornton's defense counsel argued that he suffered from dyslexia and expressed "remorse" for his actions. He also stated that Thornton had no previous convictions and "nothing suggests Mr Thornton is a dangerous offender."

Judge Robert Fraser told Thornton: "The fact is you exploited her vulnerability." He sentenced Thornton to nine years imprisonment, where he will have to serve at least half of that sentence. Thornton will also be on the Sexual Offenders Register and receive a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.