Ripon: Teaching assistant jailed for sexually abusing 10-year-old boy

A former primary school teacher was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing a ten-year-old boy.

Denise Povall, 61, of Ripon, was charged with sexual abuse, inciting sexual intercourse with a child, inciting sexual acts with a child and sexual assault by touching.

She denied all charges but was found guilty and sentenced by York Crown Court on Friday.

Det Con Alison Morris described Povall’s actions as “sustained sexual abuse of a young child by a paedophile”.

After the hearing, Ms Morris, who led the investigation for North Yorkshire Police, said the victim had been “incredibly brave to come forward”.

“This has been a long and comprehensive investigation into some of the most serious crimes we face as detectives,” she said.

“What we have uncovered can only be described as vicious and persistent sexual abuse of a young child by a paedophile.

“Povall has taken no responsibility for the harm she caused to her victim’s life, so I am glad we were able to provide the victim with some closure.”

Povall was also required to sign the sex offenders registry upon her release from prison.

The offences occurred in the 2000s when she worked for a school in the Harrogate district.

The court heard how she manipulated her victim, buying him gifts and sending him text messages. She had sexual intercourse with the child and performed sexual acts on him on several occasions.

Later, as an adult, he told North Yorkshire Police about the crimes, which led to an investigation into the former teaching assistant.

Throughout police interviews and the trial, she continued to deny that the crimes had taken place and refused to accept responsibility for her actions and their impact on the victim.