Spalding man Marvin Scampion jailed for 19 years for child sex offences

A Spalding man who was found guilty of sex offences against two children - including one attempted rape - was today jailed for 19 years.

Marvin Scampion, 48, of Edward Road, was convicted of nine charges after a two week trial at Lincoln Crown Court in March.

The jury also cleared Scampion of one sexual assault charge after deliberating for six hours.

After the guilty verdicts Scampion was remanded straight into custody to await sentence.

Passing sentence Judge James House KC told Scampion the damage he caused to the two children would endure for the rest of their lives.

Judge House said anyone who witnessed the two victims give evidence would long remember their courage.

"I commend their bravery," Judge House added. "They should be proud of themselves."

Impact statements from the two victims, who are both now adults, were read out in court.

In his statement the male victim described how his life had been destroyed.

He insisted: "It took my childhood away."

"The court case was difficult for me, pouring everything out," he added. "I thought I was going crazy when he was denying it."

The female complainant started her statement by insisting that she was a survivor rather than a victim.

She described how she still suffered from frequent panic attacks and nightmares which made it hard to sleep.

But addressing Scampion directly the woman said: "What I won't let you do is take away my bravery."

Scampion had denied nine sexual offences against two children and one charge of child cruelty.

But the jury heard Scampion was arrested in January 2020 after one of the victims made disclosures at school.

His victims, who can not be named to protect their anonymity, both gave evidence against Scampion in court.

In his evidence Scampion accepted he had developed an addiction to pornography but denied it led him to commit sexual offences.

But prosecution barrister Laura Blackband suggested to Scampion that his pornographic preferences caused him to take sexual risks.

Ms Blackband told jurors that Scampion had abused both of these children and thought he had got away with it.

Scampion was convicted of four sexual offences against a boy under the age of 13 between April 2008 and December 2011.

They included a charge of attempted rape, one charge of sexual assault, one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act and one charge of causing or inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Scampion was also found guilty of two charges of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and two charges of engaging in sexual activity while a child is present.

Those four charges occurred between January 2015 and July 2016.

Scampion was also convicted of a single charge of cruelty to a child aged under 16 when he produced a knife.

He will now have to register as a sex offender for life and must serve an extended licence period of 12 months on his release from jail.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order which prevents any contact with the victims.

Barnaby Shaw, mitigating for Scampion, asked for the court to assess the harm caused to the two victims and keep the inevitable jail sentence just and no longer than necessary.

After passing sentence Judge House also commended the police officers and other civilians involved in the case.