A CONVICTED child sex offender from Thurrock was jailed today (Friday, 2 May) at Basildon Crown Court.

At a previous trial at the same court, Jay Hexter, 38, was found guilty of three charges of sexual assault of a child, three charges of sexual activity with a child, assault of a child under 13 by penetration and causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard from prosecutor Jose Olivares-Chandler that Hexter had been convicted after a trial that took place from Monday, 7 April to Thursday, 15 April when a jury found him unanimously guilty of a multiple number of charges, and not guilty of some others, against two children.

He was aged between 31 and 32 when the offences took place.

Jay Hexter.

Before sentencing, Judge Ian Graham heard victim personal statements, read by Mr Olivares-Chandler, made by Hexter's two victims, who were sisters.

The younger said: "Sexual abuse started when I was just 12 and my teenage years were snatched before they started.

"I suffered massively and felt fragile and weak. This impacted everything I did in life. Something simple as a knock on the door would make me run to my room.

"I still can't sleep, I think someone is staring at me.

"During the time it was happening, I was very tired at school. I was depressed, I just wanted to stay at home,

"Being at school started to become very difficult and distressing. I don't know how, but news of the abuse got around the school and I felt alone and isolated. I was also bullied.

"I find it extremely hard to make contact with people as I have so much anxiety around me. Even now, five years later, I find it difficult to make relationships and I have severe trust issues.

"Even now I still just want to shut myself away from everyone and anything. For years I have tried to make it have sense in my head, without success."

Her sister said: "I still suffer hugely with anxiety, with poor self-confidence and self-worth.

"I have suffered for many years with recurring nightmares.

"I carry lots of guilt because I failed to protect my sister. I suffer hugely with trust issues.

"I feel I am particularly wary of men, especially when I am on my own. I have a complete loss of confidence in men."

In mitigation, defence counsel Tara McCarthy said there was little she could say about the offences for which he had been convicted but added he had been found not guilty on a number of other allegations.

She added that, as a child and younger man, Hexter had a blameless life with no convictions. "There was nothing before this, and nothing since", she said, and added he was now in a relationship with a partner who stood by him and had supported him through the trial.

Judge Graham said: "You are now 38 years of age; you were convicted by a jury. These offences represented a long and sustained sexual abuse.

"The campaign of sexual abuse went on for a least a year and quite possibly a lot longer than that.

"There have been read to the court personal statements. One child talked about the effect it had on her at the time and the ongoing effect on her social and school life. She refers to the fact that even some years on she has ongoing issues of trust.

"The other was left with anxiety and recurring nightmares and feels guilt she did not protect her younger sister.

"As far as mitigation is concerned, you have no previous convictions, I take that in your favour."

Judge Graham said he also took into account a family bereavement suffered by Hexter which has impacted on him, and he described Hexter as a 'working man with his own problems of anxiety'.

"Weighing up all those matters, it's a case of looking at the overall picture," said Judge Graham who then listed a series of sentences for the offences committed ranging from six months to 12 years and totalling more than 35 years.

However, he ruled that the sentences would be served concurrently, meaning Hexter will be jailed for a maximum of 12 years.

A restraining order was made that will apply when he is released and Hexter will be subject to being on the sex offenders' register for life.