August 2022

Bodmin paedophile left victim with night terrors and fear of being touched

A paedophile who left his young victim mentally scarred for life will spend at least eight years behind bars.

48-year-old Tobias Panter, from Bodmin, sexually assaulted the child and was found with dozens of indecent images of children.

Panter appeared at Truro Crown Court on Friday, August 12, after a jury found him guilty of two sex offences which, the court heard, he continues to deny happened even after he was convicted.

The offences were one of sexual touching and another more serious sexual assault.

A victim personal statement from one of the victim’s parents said that the child has been having night terrors, and is petrified of being touched on certain parts of her body since the assaults.

They said: “I believed I’ve not protected my daughter as I should have. It’s impacted the whole family.

“I can’t begin to explain the guilty I felt for not being able to protect my little girl.”

Panter was supported in court by his mother and brother.

He arrived, looking almost cheerful, before entering the docks with his bags packed expecting a custodial sentence.

The 48-year-old had pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of children, but explained it away by claiming he had been looking for pictures of his own abuse as a child.

This explanation was accepted by Judge Lindford and no penalty was issued for the images.

Tobias Panter was sentenced to 12 years in prison, of which at least two thirds will be served behind bars before he is considered for release on license.

A minimum additional year of living under license was added given the severity of the case.