Former Swindon teaching assistant guilty of child rape

Sammy Jenkins - BBC News, Swindon
·1 min read
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Sam Powers, 28, from Swindon, who previously pleaded guilty to 44 counts of sexual offences against children, was found guilty of the rape of a minor [Getty Images]

A former teaching assistant has been found guilty of raping a child.

Sam Powers, 28, from Swindon, who previously pleaded guilty to 44 counts of sexual offences against children, was found guilty at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday.

Wiltshire Police Det Sgt Zoe Purnell said Powers used his position "to access and groom vulnerable children and use them for his own sexual gratification".

He is due to be sentenced in June.

Ms Purnell said the conviction comes "after a long and complex enquiry that commenced in 2022".

"We would like to pay tribute to all of the victims who came forward and supported the investigation - it is thanks to their bravery that Powers has been stopped from offending again," she added.

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