Man who went on the run jailed for 16 years for child sexual abuse

Friday 29 November 2024

A 49-year-old man who sparked a missing person search when he failed to attend police headquarters has been jailed for 16-and-a-half years for sexually abusing a child.

Richard Louis Romeril was today sentenced for 14 offences including attempted rape, sexual touching, and indecent assault.

Romeril committed the abuse almost weekly over an 11-year period.

Pictured: Romeril faced trial in the Royal Court in June.

This became progressively getting worse over time, and resulted in the attempted rape of his victim.

During a seven-day trial, the Royal Court heard how Romeril had kept underwear from his victim over several years, from when they were a small child spanning through to their teenage years.

These were found during a search of his bedroom, hidden under his mattress, and were shown to the Jury during trial.

Romeril was first arrested in March 2023 and an investigation commenced.

However, he failed to attend police headquarters for charge and sparked an island-wide search involving a number of emergency services.

Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, the police, search dogs, drones and a French Navy helicopter were all mobilised.

Flyers were distributed bearing a description of him and a photo taken from CCTV.

Cameras had footage of Romeril buying camping equipment from Blacks in King Street, and he was seen again on CCTV at B&Q that same morning.

His car, a black Kia Sportage, was later found at Noirmont Point.

Pictured: Images of Romeril released by the police during the missing person search for him last year.

Romeril was eventually discovered in Route des Hêtres, in St Peter, in the early hours of the morning of 14 September by a police officer on patrol.

A number of electrical devices seized from Romeril were found to contain a large quantity of indecent images of children.

Following the sentencing today, Detective Constable Sian Dupre said: "The sentence handed to Richard Romeril today reflects the gravity of his crimes and their profound impact.

"We want to recognise the extraordinary bravery of the survivor, who courageously came forward to make the complaint.

"Their remarkable strength and resilience have been pivotal in bringing Romeril to justice.

"It is our sincere hope that this sentence will provide them with a sense of justice and contribute to their healing journey."

She added: "The role of the support agencies involved, including Dewberry House and the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA), has been essential in providing the necessary care and assistance to the survivor.

"We commend their unwavering support and dedication throughout this process.

"Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the Law Officers for their diligent work in prosecuting this case.

"Their commitment to justice has been crucial in securing this outcome.

"We are committed to supporting survivors of abuse and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions."

SUPPORT...

Islanders affected by any of the issues raised in this report can contact any of the following:

SARC at Dewberry House provides expert independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 888222. 

Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) provide and maintain a supporting framework for survivors and their families. Confidential helpline: 01534 482800.

Freeda (formerly Jersey Women’s Refuge) offer help and support for victims of domestic abuse. Tel: 0800 7356836.

Jersey Domestic Abuse Support (JDAS) is an independent service developed to protect and support victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 880505. 

Victim Support offer free and confidential advice to victims of crime. Tel: 01534 440496. 

Victims First Jersey is a free and independent service offering confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Tel: 0800 7351612. 

Samaritans offer a confidential and non-judgemental listening ear to people who need to talk. Tel: 116 123 free from any phone or 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply).