Man who sexually abused child in rotherham avoids jail

A man who sexually abused a child over a decade ago has avoided jail. Jacek Brzozowski, 35, was handed a suspended sentence at Sheffield Crown Court today (Wednesday May 21) for abusing the

child in Rotherham over 10 years ago. He admitted to penetrative sexual activity with a child between October and December 2011. He was given 21 months in jail, suspended for two months, for

his crime. He will also be on the sex offenders register for 10 years and handed 40 hours rehabilitation requirement. Polish national Brzozowski, of Rawmarsh in Rotherham, was on trial

alongside two other men, Romulad Stefan Houphouet, 37, and Absolom Sigiyo, 41, who were found guilty of a number of sexual offences, including rape, earlier this year. Houphouet was jailed

for 20 years, while Sigiyo was sentenced for 18 years and six months. Houphouet and Sigiyo were the orchestrators of the consistent series of sexual attacks, but the court heard Brzozowski,

who was 21 at the time and living in Houphouet’s house, took advantage of an opportunity presented to him. Her Honour Judge Sarah Wright said Brzozowski had abused a "vulnerable girl

who had been exploited by men you were acquainted with". Brzozowski had sex with the girl before another man violently interrupted. Judge Wright added: "I have read the

psychological report, the pre-sentence report and the addendum, and I have the benefit of observing you throughout the trial, including when you gave evidence. It is clear you have some

issues with functioning and understanding. You face a number of difficulties, and it is apparent that your level of maturity at the time was probably similar to that of the complainant.

"But nevertheless, she was a vulnerable and looked-after child. You have not reoffended in any way since this isolated incident. Unlike others, this was not a pattern of repeated and

sustained behaviour. It seems to me that you clearly need assistance in understanding why this behaviour is so wrong. Your guilty plea is perhaps the best evidence that there is hope that

you will be able, with assistance, to reflect upon your behaviour." Regarding the sentence, Judge Wright warned: "This order will come to an end in two years’ time. But if you

commit any further offences in the next two years, or fail to comply with the order, you will come back to court and I will send you to prison." The convictions were a part of Operation

Stovewood, a major investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation which took place across Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. The operation is the largest law enforcement investigation

into non-familial child sexual exploitation and abuse in the UK. The landmark Jay Report in 2014 found male gangs of largely Pakistani heritage abused at least 1,400 girls in Rotherham

between 1997 and 2013. The operation was launched following the report and has identified more than 1,100 children involved in exploitation. Almost all of them were girls. _GET ALL THE

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