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A Stowmarket man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexually abusing two children over a decade – with the offences beginning when he himself was 14 years old.
The details: Scott Lawrence-Bayly, 28, of Bridge Street, Stowmarket, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 13 December.
He will serve 17 years in custody, followed by an extended licence period of five years
His offences spanned a 10-year period, beginning when he was 14 years old
The first victim was eight years old at the time of the abuse
Further offences were committed when Lawrence-Bayly was an adult against a six-year-old victim
What they're saying: Detective Constable Sam Chandler from the Safeguarding Investigation Unit called the crimes "truly abhorrent," noting that "although they began when he himself was a child, they continued into adulthood."
The sentence breakdown:
17 years custodial sentence
Additional five-year extended licence period after release
Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life
The judge's view: The court described Lawrence-Bayly as a "dangerous offender who has a significant sexual interest in children."
The bottom line: Despite the offences beginning when Lawrence-Bayly was a teenager, the severity of his crimes and their continuation into adulthood led to a substantial prison sentence, reflecting what police called the "devastating" impact on his victims.
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