Courage of victims helps detectives bring sexual offender to justice
Two brave victims coming forward has helped officers bring a teaching assistant and martial arts instructor to justice for sexual offences.
Tom Jun Ahnstrom, aged 25 and of Southampton, pleaded guilty to offences including two charges of sexual communications with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch a sexual act.
The offences involved two female teenage victims.
After a search of his devices police also found illegal material, Ahnstrom further admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of a child.
The defendant made contact with his first victim via Snapchat in July 2022 and engaged in sexual communication toward her.
Ahnstrom also made contact with his second victim via Snapchat in the summer of 2022 and sent her sexually explicit messages.
Ahnstrom was arrested on Friday 8 December 2023 after an allegation was received in relation to the first victim and the second victim was also identified following further enquiries.
Both victims bravely came forward to give an account of what had happened to police and support the subsequent investigation, led by detectives from Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT).
Ahnstrom was subsequently charged and, after admitting the offences, he appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday 28 July 2026 and was sentenced to six years in prison and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for a period of 15 year. Lifetime restraining orders were also imposed preventing Ahnstrom from contacting both victims.
Detective Constable Samantha Flynn, of CAIT, said: “Thanks to the courage these victims have shown in coming forward, we were able to conduct a thorough investigation and hold Ahnstrom to account for his abusive behaviour.
“I hope the brave actions of these victims helps others find the strength to come forward and report offences to us, in the knowledge that we will fully support them and take action against perpetrators involved.”
If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, and you want to report directly to the police, please call 101 and ask to be put in contact with a specially trained police officer. Always dial 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can contact The Shores Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0800 970 9954.
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