Exclusive:Army veteran found guilty of historic child sex offences in Havant as sentencing date set
Chris Cotton was charged with 11 different sex offences against children.
A man accused of multiple historic sex offences against children has been found guilty by a jury.
Chris Cotton, 64, formerly of Leigh Park and more recently living in Hounslow, was charged with 11 counts against children, including rape, indecent assault and inciting children to engage in sexual activity.
The majority of these offences took place in Havant, during the late 1970s and early 1980s. His accusers have a life-long right to anonymity.
After a day and a half of deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all charges.
Over the course of the trial, the court heard how Cotton terrorised multiple children, both before and after he had joined the army. The defendant enlisted in 1979, with his first posting being in Germany.
Judge Daniel Sawyer said: “One woman said he put her on his lap and touched her when she was three years old. She said it lasted for a couple of seconds, and that she doesn't remember how that incident finished. She later described another similar incident, as well as a third from when she was a bit older.
“Another woman said he put his hand up her and touched her. She recalled that she froze, and started to cry. The incident lasted for about five minutes, then it stopped. She also told us that she was taken into a loft, where she was sexually abused.
“She added that she didn't say anything at the time, because Cotton said he would 'cut her throat'.”
Cotton has been remanded in custody, and will be sentenced on Friday, September 18.