Swindon teaching assistant who abused young boys is jailed

Sam Powers, 28, used his position at a school in Swindon, to gain access to and groom young boys, paid some for sexual images, and posed as female on social media to elicit images from other underage males.

He had previously pleaded guilty to 44 separate counts but denied one count of rape, of which he was found guilty by a jury following a trial in April, this year.

It was revealed that over the course of four years, Powers had groomed at least 14 identifiable young boys between the ages of 12 and 16, as well as more who were not identified.

He produced and solicited pictures and videos at multiple locations, which were discovered on his devices, some saved in folders labelled with the names of the victims.

The defendant of Milton Road, Swindon appeared at a sentencing hearing at Gloucester Crown Court on June 21, where he learned he would be in prison for 16 years and would be on licence with conditions for the remainder of the custodial term if released early, plus an extended four years.

His Honour Judge Lowe acknowledged Powers' guilty plea for most of the charges, saving his victims from having to give evidence in court.

But he added Powers posed a significant risk of serious harm to teenage boys and must be treated as a dangerous offender.

He said: “The impact of what you did to these children is well expressed in the victim's statements which I have read and have been read out in court.

“Those who perpetrate sexual abuse on vulnerable individuals may do untold personal and psychological damage.

“Where those individuals are already vulnerable. It can be impossible to identify what precise harms are attributable to the offending and what to other causes. But the fact is that you picked on vulnerable boys you instinctively knew you could manipulate.”

The court heard how Powers had invited a 14 or 15-year-old boy to his house to play video games. He got the young teenager drunk and then pulled down his clothing and raped him.

“Being raped has profoundly and negatively altered my life in numerous ways,” the victim said in a victim personal statement read out in court.

“It has instilled a deep sense of fear and vulnerability, disrupting my ability to feel safe and secure in my daily environment.

 “The trauma has affected my mental health, anxiety, depression, and persistent emotional distress.

“All of my relationships suffer as I have trust issues and feelings of isolation.”

He added: “It has taken me weeks to figure out what to write, as I find it hard to know what to say let alone write. I thought I was okay, but I am not. Sam Powers has destroyed me. I’m a fraction of the man I could be.”

Another victim was 12 or 13 when he first met Powers. At 16, he recognised the teaching assistant online and they began talking.

There was a discussion of violent sexual fantasies, they met up and exchanged underwear and they showered together.

Images of this victim were found on the defendant’s computer in a file labelled with his name, showing sexually explicit acts Powers had asked him to do.

He appeared in court to read his victim's statement in person.

“I am making this statement to let the court know and understand the depth and profound impact the abuse from Sam Powers has had on me," he said.

“I thought he had my best interests at heart. He did not and he used his power and authority to abuse vulnerable children like me.

“Sam Powers has destroyed my trust in authority. I want to thank him for allowing me to realise as an adult myself, that some people in positions of power and trust use that power to satisfy their own sick desires, and that those people will do anything to satisfy themselves irrespective of the impact it has on others.

“Thank you, Sam, for corrupting my attitude towards authority. Now I am callous to the manipulation used by other people in the world who share the same self-serving and grotesque ideations as you do.”

He added: “Sam Powers your time for justice has come, you will be punished for the lives you’ve tainted all to satisfy your own twisted perversions.”

Other harrowing victim personal statements were read out throughout the sentencing hearing. 

Powers was also given a sexual harm prevention order for 25 years, and a restraining order prohibited him from contacting three of the victims for 25 years.  

Detective Sergeant Zoe Purnell said: “I would like to pay tribute to the numerous survivors who bravely came forward to give evidence which has led to the conviction of Powers.

“This case has been brought as the result of a wide-ranging, complex and challenging investigation in which it became clear that Powers is a predatory paedophile who sought opportunities to work closely with young people, to groom and abuse them in order to satisfy his own selfish desires.

“He now faces a lengthy jail term which I hope brings survivors of this abuse some form of closure.

“I hope this sentence will encourage other survivors of abuse to report it - we are here to help you, you will be listened to, and we have trained officers who work closely with partner organisations to support you in any way we can.”