A 54-year-old man, formerly from Southall, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for a string of sexual offences committed against a child in Swindon.
Caetano Mauricio Vas, previously of Lady Margaret Road, was convicted of multiple charges at Swindon Crown Court and sentenced yesterday (6 June 2025).
The jury found him guilty of four counts of rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, one count of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual assault.
Vas denied the offences and the case went to trial in March 2025. The jury found him guilty on 17 March 2025.
The offences, which took place in Swindon between 2014 and 2016, began when the victim was just eight years old. Vas manipulated and intimidated her, threatening to share explicit images if she disclosed the abuse. His crimes left a deep psychological scar on the girl, who bravely reported the abuse in 2021.
In a statement read to the court, the victim said: “It is hard to understand how one person could have such an impact. His actions have affected me in so many ways, which I have to cope with daily and I will probably have to cope with for the rest of my life.
“I always knew Mauricio wasn’t going to admit what he did. I was always prepared to give evidence. I was nervous but I hope that I am becoming stronger, even though at times I feel so weak.
“Mauricio ruined my childhood. Even though I am an adult now, I still feel like I want that childhood that I missed out on.
“No matter what happens to Mauricio now, I will never get all those years back that I lost because of what happened.”
Detective Constable Chloe Smith of Wiltshire Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “I would like to commend the victim for her immense courage and patience throughout the process of bringing Vas to justice.”
DC Smith added: “Child predators like Vas have no place in our society and we will do our utmost to deal with them robustly while supporting the victims who are left with life-long trauma as a result of their heinous actions.”
