Nigel Sturman, a disgraced former leader of groups which met at the Forum and Battlenet in Norwich has been jailed for six years after he was convicted of sexually abusing teenage girls.
Nigel Sturman, 27, who was head of the Society of Anime and Manga, which met at the Forum, and also ran a Dungeons and Dragons group which met at Battlenet, in the city, was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with teenage victims following his trial in May.
Norwich Crown Court heard that three of the victims were under 16 when the sex abuse took place. He was cleared of two further charges of sexual activity against one of the girls.
The court heard in impact statements which were handed in to the court that all his victims had been deeply affected by the abuse and one of the victims suffered nightmares.
Sturman, of Church Road, Aslacton, who continues to deny the charges, appeared for sentence yesterday and was jailed for six years.
He was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order which bans him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 and also is on the sex offender’s register.
Sentencing him, Judge Nicholas Coleman told him that it must be “hurtful” for his victims that he continued to deny his guilt and said: “In my judgment you are manifestly guilty of these offences.”
He said that a report said that Sturman posed “high risk” of harm to young people and said: “It is quite clear from all the facts in this case you were targeting young girls.”
Judge Coleman added: “You knew exactly how old they were and how vulnerable they were.”
He said it was clear from the impact statements that his behaviour had deeply impacted the victims and said he had “ruined the lives” for a time for some of them.
However, he accepted that Sturman would find his time in prison difficult and that he had not used any threats or force on the victims.
“Any sentence of imprisonment is going to be particularly harsh.”
Lori Tucker, for Sturman, said: “There is very little I can say as he continues to deny the offences.”
She said Sturman was of previous good character and since his conviction he had sought help from his GP and was taking sleeping tablets.