Southampton Pensioner Found Guilty of Historic Sexual Assault

A 92 year old Southampton man has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a woman more than two decades ago, following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.

Kenneth Gibb, of Butts Road, was convicted of one count of indecent assault relating to an incident that took place in 2003. He was acquitted of a second charge arising from the same incident.

The former merchant sailor had denied both allegations, claiming the woman had invited him into her bedroom to “cuddle” and “talk dirty.” However, the jury found him guilty on one of the counts after hearing emotional testimony from the victim.

Giving evidence in court, the woman — who cannot be named for legal reasons — described how the ordeal left her traumatised.

“I felt his hand on my belly then over my breasts, and I told him to stop,” she said. “It made me want to curl up and die.”

The assault is said to have occurred at the woman’s home. The court heard that the encounter was unwanted and left a lasting psychological impact on the victim.

Judge Recorder Donald Tait ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared ahead of sentencing. Gibb was released on bail and is due to return to court on 26 August.

The case adds to a growing number of historic sexual assault cases being brought to trial, as victims continue to come forward seeking justice — sometimes decades after the incidents occurred.