Southall man jailed for 25 years over child sex abuse
Sat 07 Jun 2025
Caetano Mauricio Vas, formerly of Lady Margaret Road in Southall, was convicted of multiple charges at Swindon Crown Court and sentenced on 6 June 2025.
On 17 March 2025, the jury found the 54-year-old man guilty of four counts of raping a child under the age of 13, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of inciting a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Vas began abusing the victim when she was only 8 years old, causing deep and lasting harm that affected every part of her life and led her to experience suicidal thoughts.
He manipulated and intimidated her by threatening to share explicit photographs if she ever revealed the abuse.
The abuse occurred in Swindon between 2014 and 2016, but the victim courageously came forward and reported it in 2021.
Vas denied the allegations, leading to a trial in March 2025. During the proceedings, the victim gave a powerful account of the abuse she endured, resulting in the jury finding Vas guilty on 17 March 2025.
In a statement presented to the court, the victim described the lasting effects of the abuse: "It is hard to understand how one person could have such an impact.
"His actions have affected me in so many ways, which I have to cope with daily and I will probably have to cope with for the rest of my life.
"I always knew Mauricio wasn’t going to admit what he did. I was always prepared to give evidence. I was nervous but I hope that I am becoming stronger, even though at times I feel so weak.
"Mauricio ruined my childhood. Even though I am an adult now, I still feel like I want that childhood that I missed out on.
"No matter what happens to Mauricio now, I will never get all those years back that I lost because of what happened."
Detective Constable Chloe Smith, from Wiltshire Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team said: "I would like to commend the victim for her immense courage and patience throughout the process of bringing Vas to justice.
"Child predators like Vas have no place in our society and we will do our utmost to deal with them robustly while supporting the victims who are left with life-long trauma as a result of their heinous actions."
Anyone with concerns or information about possible abuse is urged to contact local law enforcement or reach out to child protection organizations for support and guidance.
If you have a local news story, share it with the rest of Southall, by using the contact form.
