Timothy Darch jailed for historic Swindon sexual assaults

Timothy Darch has been jailed for 22 years

A man has been jailed for a series of serious historical sexual assaults committed in Swindon.

Timothy Darch, 62, was jailed for 22 years after after being found guilty of four counts of raping a boy under the age of 16.

Darch, of Southrop Road, Gloucester, was also sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday for four counts of indecent assault on an underage boy.

The offences, against three boys under 16, took place in 1996 and 1997.

Wiltshire Police said Darch met his victims through organisations such as support charities for young gay men.

"Darch put himself in a position of trust and exploited and took advantage of those vulnerable children," Det Con Ross Duff said.

Darch was found guilty of all charges after a trial in February.

'Manipulation and mind games'

In a statement read to the court, one of Darch's victim's said: "I was a child when I met Tim, so manipulating me and sexualising and abusing me was easy for him.

"The damage he has done to me has affected my whole life.

"He played various mind games, and was very good at manipulating me and others to get whatever he wanted."

An impact statement from another victim read to the court said: "I can't move on from the feelings of shame and blaming myself. I look back at the things I did as a child, and I apportion blame on myself for not behaving as I would now.

"I have started to release the shame I have for being abused by Tim, but I can't simply let it go.

"It moved and changed into shame for not speaking sooner. I now have blame for everyone that Tim did this to after me."

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