Depraved paedophile who abused boys is jailed for 10 years

Disturbed Claudio Da Silva, 51, of Monks Walk in East Cowes, carried out his reign of terror over six years after starting to abuse his first victim in 2010.

Da Silva then went on to sexually assault two other boys who were under the age of 16 at the time. The assaults continued until 2016.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how the defendant preyed on the boys before buying them gifts and bribes to maintain their silence – until he was finally ousted as a paedophile.

Da Silva took the boys on trips where he would routinely inflict disgusting ordeals – often without them knowing.

Judge David Melville QC, referring to an incident in 2010 where Da Silva had taken a 12-year-old victim to Scotland, said: ‘He woke up to find your hand on his crotch. You groomed him with activities, presents, bribes and trips.

‘You gave him what he wanted so you could get what you wanted.’

Speaking about another of his victims in 2015, the judge said: ‘You invited him round again. He put a pillow over his lap but you put your hand under the pillow and onto his crotch.’

Da Silva took his third victim camping and the boy was woken to find the paedophile fiddling with his groin. ‘You were in the tent at night and the boy woke up to find your hand inside his pants,’ judge Melville said.

The judge added: ‘You took steps to prevent him from going to his mum by spoiling him.’

Da Silva’s reign of abuse was only brought to an end when the brave boys came forward and reported it.

Following an investigation, Da Silva was charged with six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual assault.

One of the boys, in a statement read out to court, said: ‘I have nightmares and wake up screaming. It’s always on my mind and I have constant fear of seeing him and think I’ve seen him even when I haven’t.’

Da Silva denied the offences, but was convicted by a jury at Isle of Wight Crown Court last Friday.

Da Silva, who was previously diagnosed with prostate cancer, was handed an unlimited sexual harm prevention order along with his jail term.

PSI Claire Linton, from Isle of Wight CID, said after the sentence: ‘I cannot emphasise enough the strength and bravery of these young boys. It is down to them that this dangerous sex offender has been taken off the streets.

‘I would encourage anyone who has been victim of this type of offence to come forward and speak to us.

‘We understand this can be a really difficult thing to do, but I hope the verdicts of the jury and the sentencing are reassurance that we take these allegations seriously and you will be listened to.’