A man who befriended families holidaying at a caravan park in order to sexually abuse young girls has been locked up for seven years.
Barry John Hopcutt, of Beechwood Mews, Tytherington, had denied four charges of engaging children under 13 in sexual activity but a jury found him guilty of three offences after a trial.
Hopcutt owned a caravan at the site near Holyhead and would offer families trips in a boat he kept nearby.
Two of the offences took place on the boat while another occurred in the awning of his caravan.
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Sentencing the 59-year-old at Caernarfon Crown Court yesterday, Judge Geraint Walters said: “You befriended parents with young families at the caravan park where you also had a caravan and were known as something of a character.
“You were liked by the parents, you were trusted. You are therefore a predatory individual who befriended families and when you gained their trust you abused it.”
During the trial Hopcutt, who was acquitted of one charge, claimed the allegations made against him by three young girls were false.
Victim impact statements by the victims’ parents read in court told of the long-lasting effects Hopcutt’s behaviour had had on their children.
Defence barrister Simon Rogers said that Hopcutt realised a jail term was inevitable.
“He is of previous good character and has a good work ethic. A custodial sentence, of any length, will be very difficult for him,” he said.
Hopcutt, who also worked as an aircraft engineer for Monarch airlines at Manchester Airport, was jailed for four years for the offences in his boat and three years for the incident in the awning – both sentences to run consecutively.
In addition Hopcutt’s detail will remain on the sex offenders register for life and he must observe a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which
prevents unsupervised access with children under 16. Hopcutt must also not work with children under 16.
Investigating Officer DC Shona Campbell at Caernarfon CID said: “Hopcutt is a sexual predator who exploited families who befriended him whilst holidaying in North Wales so he could target and abuse their children. The young victims and their families have been particularly brave and showed significant strength of character in coming forward to report what happened. The sentence rightly reflects the severity of Hopcutt’s crimes.”
