A Swindon man has been sentenced to a suspended prison term and placed on the sex offenders register following multiple incidents of sexual assault, which took place over a three-year period.
Laurence Norris-Ing, 33, of Garnet Crescent, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on 24th September 2024, where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to six counts of sexual assault. The offences, committed between 2018 and 2021, involved five victims, three of whom were under 18 at the time. Norris-Ing, who worked in a managerial role at a local retail shop, was accused of using his position to carry out the assaults against female staff members.
The court heard that Norris-Ing sexually assaulted his victims by inappropriate touching, taking advantage of his authority in the workplace. His behaviour left a significant impact on the victims, who were entrusted to his supervision.
Judge Lewis, who presided over the case, handed Norris-Ing a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. In addition, Norris-Ing was ordered to participate in a 43-day accredited programme aimed at rehabilitation, and he must complete 240 hours of unpaid community work. He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with any female under the age of 18 in any employment or voluntary role. Furthermore, Norris-Ing is required to register with the police as a sex offender for the next decade.
Sgt Vaughan, who led the investigation, commented: “Norris-Ing abused his position as a manager to exploit vulnerable members of his staff. Three of his victims were minors at the time, and this case serves as a stark reminder of the impact of power imbalance in the workplace. We encourage anyone who has been the victim of such offences to come forward. We understand it can be difficult to report these crimes, but we have specially trained officers who are here to support you.”
Wiltshire Police urge anyone with information regarding sexual offences or those affected by abuse to contact them. Support services are available, and more information can be found on their website.
