July 2016

Dennis Palmer, 67, jailed for four years for sexually abusing two young girls in Winchcombe

Former Ministry of Defence police worker Dennis Palmer, 67, was jailed for four years today for sexually abusing two young girls in Winchcombe in the late Seventies and early Eighties.

Palmer, formerly of Winchcombe, but now of Faraday Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, had been convicted at Gloucester Crown Court last month of four offences of indecently assaulting one girl when she was 10.

He was also found guilty of one offence of indecently assaulting another girl, aged five.

Today Palmer was sentenced by Judge Jamie Tabor QC at Bristol Crown Court because the 200-year-old Gloucester courthouse could not be used following an overnight ceiling collapse in the cells.

The judge passed sentences of one year consecutively on each of four counts and one year concurrently on the fifth.

He also imposed a four year extended licence period meaning that Palmer could be recalled to prison at any time during a six year period after his release if he offended again or breached parole conditions.

The judge ordered Palmer to sign the sex offender register for life.

Durin the trial the jury heard that although the older girl told her mother what Palmer was doing to her she took no action.

Palmer then went on to assault the second girl on one occasion and she, too, told her mother but again nothing was done.

Palmer had served in the Royal Navy and then had a variety of subsequent jobs, including driving for Castleway Coaches in Winchcombe, before working for the MoD police for about 30 years.

June 2016

Perverted ex-MoD police officer guilty of sex attacks on young girls

A former Ministry of Defence policeman has been found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls during the 1970s and 1980s.

Dennis Palmer, 67, was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault.

One of the victims, now a woman, said Palmer would go out drinking and would creep in to her bedroom upon his return.

The court heard how he would crawl along the floor on his hands and knees towards her bed and put his hands under her duvet.

The young girl, aged 10 at the time, would often try and stop him by holding down the sides of her duvet.

Palmer went on to assault his other victim, a five-year-old, in much the same way.

Both girls told their mothers but sadly the police were not informed.

Palmer, formerly of Winchcombe, Glos. but now of Faraday Road, Stevenage, worked for the MoD police for 30 years.

A jury took two-and-a-half hours to reach a unanimous verdict at Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday.

The case has been adjourned for sentencing on July 6 and Palmer has been granted conditional bail.