A man has been jailed for at least 10 years after being convicted of sexual offences.
Following a 10-day trial at St Albans Crown Court, Shaun Harris, 58, of no fixed abode, was sentenced on Wednesday, December 17, for:
- Two counts of rape
One count of attempted rape
Two counts of assault by penetration
He was given a discretionary life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years in prison.
Harris, who pleaded not guilty at an earlier court hearing in May, will remain on the Sex Offender Register for life. A restraining order has been put in place, and he is also subject to a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which contains strict conditions including having to inform police within three days if he intends to form an intimate relationship.
Detective Sergeant Colin Hutton from the constabulary’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT), said: “Firstly, I would like to publicly commend the victim for her incredible bravery throughout the criminal justice process.
“Harris is a dangerous sexual predator, and I am glad to see that he will be spending a considerable amount of time in prison. The communities where he used to reside will feel safer knowing that he is behind bars.
“We know it can be incredibly challenging to come forward to report incidents of sexual assault. We take reports of sexual offences very seriously, and we will do everything we can to ensure that victims feel like their voices are heard and that offenders are brought to justice.
“Anyone wishing to report a sexual assault will always be treated sensitively and with respect by us. Please be assured we have specially trained officers who can help you every step of the way.”
Being a victim of a sexual offence is never your fault. If you’ve been a victim, no matter how long ago the offence occurred, please report it. We have specialist officers on hand to provide advice and support throughout an investigation. The constabulary also has LGBTQ+ liaison officers who are specially trained to provide support to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in the Force Communications Room via the online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101.
Anyone in Hertfordshire who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence can contact the Herts Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for practical and emotional support.
The centre can arrange face-to-face support, sexual health referrals, and provide forensic medical examinations for those who want them.
To contact Herts SARC, call 0330 223 0099 or visit hertssarc.org.
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