Man, 25, convicted of non-recent sex offences

A 25-year-old man has been found guilty of non-recent sex offences against a girl which started when she was under ten-years-old.

Aiden Brian Hunt, previously of Northampton, was 17-years-old when he began abusing the girl - repeatedly sexually assaulting her on a number of occasions over a two-month period.

At the time, Hunt told the girl that if she told anyone, including her parents, “nobody would love her anymore” and she might “get taken away for lying”.

However, in 2020, years after the abuse, the girl concerned realised something was not right when her school covered a sex education module and her parents also had a talk with her about getting older.

“We wanted her to know that she could talk to us about anything,” the girl’s mother said in her statement to police. “Going on the pill, sexual relationships, anything, it didn’t matter even if she went out and murdered someone - she must tell us, we are her parents and will always love her no matter what.”

This prompted the girl to disclose the abuse she had suffered at Hunt’s hands and the incident was reported to Northamptonshire Police.

An investigation was launched with Hunt arrested, charged and opting to take the case to a trial.

However, in September, a jury found him guilty of five counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, two counts of rape against a girl under 13 and one count of attempted rape against a girl under 13. He returned to the same court yesterday (December 14) where he was sentenced to four years in prison.

Lead Investigator – DC Andy Wakling, said: “This brave young girl held onto the abuse she had suffered at Hunt’s hands for many years before she finally felt able to report the incident to police. She has shown courage beyond her years and I hope the conclusion of this case provides her with a sense of closure and an ability to move forward with the bright future she has ahead of her.

“Like many predators, Hunter manipulated her at the time to think that telling anyone what was happening to her would get her taken away from her family. This shameful tactic is often used in cases of child abuse and it is a dreadful way to make a child feel isolated and unable to ask for help or check that what is happening is wrong.

“I would like to commend this young girl’s parents as well for the support and love they have shown their daughter which made her feel able to disclose what had happened to them and then subsequently to us.

“Hunt will now spend many years behind bars and I hope this case demonstrates the seriousness with which Northamptonshire Police take reports of this nature.”

Northamptonshire Police takes reports of sexual abuse extremely seriously and we will treat all calls and reports with the sensitivity and confidentiality that they deserve.

We will believe you, we will support you, and we will do all we can to make sure those responsible pay for their crimes.

Please come forward by calling 101 or use our online portal at www.northants.police.uk.

If you are not yet ready to speak to the police, please visit www.voicenorthants.org or call Voice on 0300 303 1965.

*This press release and custody image have been released with the support and agreement of the survivor*