After a six day trial at Guildford Crown Court, Benjamin Nichols, 35 of Dorking, West Sussex, was yesterday (Monday, 25 May) found guilty of four counts of sexual assault of a child.

Nichols was sentenced to 12 months in prison for each count, which he will serve concurrently, and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

A sexual harm prevention order was also granted to monitor his digital technology use and restrict his access to children.

The incidents occurred between 2016 and 2017, with the last incident, which led to his arrest, occurring in February 2017.

This case was the first time a Surrey court had used section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act, which allowed Nichols’ victims to be cross-examined in a pre-recorded video.