A former Lavant Paedophile cadet leader, Simon Taplin, has been imprisoned for non-recent sexual offences directed against two young girls. Appearing before Portsmouth Crown Court on June 3, Simon Taplin received a four-and-a-half-year term.
On February 20, in the same court, he had been convicted guilty of two charges of indecently assaulting a female under the age of sixteen.
Simon Taplin, 64, of Springfield Close in Lavant, was found not guilty by the jury after being charged with five further counts of sexual assault of a girl under the age of sixteen.
September 2020 saw the start of an inquiry following a third-party tip to Sussex Police alleging Taplin had sexually molested a lady as a kid.
Legal considerations prevent his victim from being identified. Hence, he met her at the cadets, where he used his authority to mistreat her.
His victim was in her teens at the first incidence in 1996. Simon Taplin spent the next four years sexually abusing her several times.
Another woman boldly came forward during the inquiry to say Simon Taplin had mistreated her at about the same time.
It was claimed that Simon Taplin mistreated her sexually during a cadet function using her seniority, therefore abusing her when she was a teenager.
Apart from the term of custody, Simon Taplin was also registered as a lifetime Sex Offender.
“I would want to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and providing evidence to police and in court,” Safeguarding Investigations Unit detective Constable Jason Berney said.
“This bravery has achieved Simon Taplin’s punishment; it marks a guy who exploited his authority to exploit women now behind bars.
“I want any victims of sexual abuse urged to come forward to document any crime or misconduct. We shall look at it regardless of how long it has been.
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