Latest Offenders Kent

Description

A sex offender from Snodland who repeatedly abused a child over a period of almost 10 years has been jailed.

Martin Emery was convicted of a catalogue of offences, after he targeted his vulnerable victim during a series of assaults between 1997 and 2005.

Allegations of abuse were first reported to Kent Police on 18 February 2018 and Emery, who was living in Chatham at the time, was arrested the same day.

An investigation uncovered that Emery had also secretly filmed his victim, and further offences were identified after several devices were seized from his home including a hard drive and USB stick.

The devices were found to contain hundreds of indecent images of children downloaded from the internet, many of which were in the most serious category.

They also included evidence of obscene and extreme images and videos, some of which involved animals.

Trial and conviction

In June 2021, Emery appeared before Medway Magistrates‘ Court where he only admitted to four charges relating to possessing and making indecent images of children, as well as a charge of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Emery denied all the allegations of child sexual abuse but following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault, sexual assault and voyeurism.

The 64-year-old, of Birling Road, Snodland was sentenced on Wednesday 3 May, to five years’ imprisonment.

He was also made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Harrowing abuse

DC Wendy Tondeur, of the North Kent Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: ‘Emery had the trust of a child and exploited this trust in the worst possible way, by subjecting her to systematic and harrowing abuse. The victim was left feeling helpless and with nowhere to turn, but thankfully in recent years found the courage to come forward and help us ensure Emery has now been brought to justice.‘I would urge anyone who has been a victim of any sexual offence to remember that it is never too late to report this to police. We have a team of specialist officers who work relentlessly to ensure that offenders like Emery do not evade justice, just because a crime may have happened a long time ago. We will always treat any information with the upmost confidence and sensitivity.’

Description

A Chatham sex offender who conspired with a woman to sexually abuse young children has been jailed for eight and a half years.

Tristan Goodwin, 24, and Angel Fuller, 19, were both jaied today at Maidstone Crown Court, following sex offences committed against children over a two-year period.

The court heard how Goodwin committed sex offences with a child on at least three occasions after Fuller arranged for them to meet him between May 2021 and January 2022.

Later that year, Fuller took another child to meet Goodwin, who went on to rape them.

Fuller, of Churchill Avenue, Chatham, and Goodwin, of Edinburgh Road, Chatham, were both arrested on 24 May, and detectives found Goodwin had being paying Fuller to introduce him to child victims.

Officers also discovered he had groomed two children in 2020, after he made contact with them on social media.

Their investigations found he had persuaded them to send indecent images and then meet him, before he sexually assaulted them.

Goodwin was charged with raping a child, two counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of paying for the sexual services of a child and possession of indecent images.

Fuller was charged with aiding and abetting the rape of a child and two counts of arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

Both pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court today and Goodwin was jailed for eight and a half years. He will serve a further four years on licence under the terms of an extended sentence.

Fuller was jailed for four and a half years.

Both offenders have also been made subject to sexual harm prevention orders and added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Grant Broad, said: “Goodwin and Fuller worked together to target young, vulnerable victims and their depraved actions will leave a lasting impact on the victims’ lives.

“I wish to commend the courage of these vulnerable victims in supporting this investigation and ensuring a dangerous predator has been held to account for his appalling actions.

“If anyone has been a victim of any sexual offence it is never too late to report this to the police. We will always treat any information with the upmost confidence and sensitivity.’

Description

A 47-year-old man has been jailed for 18 years after raping and sexually assaulting a woman in his car at 4am. A Detective from Kent Police has labelled the incident ‘despicable’ and has said tackling violence against women and girls is one of the forces key priorities.

Peter Wrotchford, formerly of Ashley Avenue, Folkestone, targeted the victim as she walked in the Tram Road area of the town at around 4am on September 4, 2022.

After raping the woman, Wrotchford then drove her to various locations near Folkestone and carried out sexual offences, before driving her to the address of a friend of hers. Once at her friend's home, the victim told her about the incident and it was reported to Kent Police.

An investigation connected Wrotchford’s vehicle a white Ford Connect being connected to the offence. The Police arrested him the day after the incident took place and he was charged with rape and sexual assault on September 6.

Wrotchford was found guilty of rape and sexual assault charges following a trial and was jailed for 18 years at Canterbury Crown Court on 14 April 2023. He will serve an extra four years on licence.

Detective Constable Chris Brett, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: 'Tackling violence against women and girls is one of Kent Police's key priorities and part of that work is bringing offenders like Wrotchford to justice.

'His actions on the night of this offence were despicable and I am pleased he will now be in prison, and off the streets of Folkestone, for a considerable amount of time.

'I would like to pay tribute to the victim's courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings, and I hope the quick arrest of this offender and the sentence now imposed assist her as she rebuilds her life.'

Description

A suspect police have been hunting for more than four years in connection with an attempted rape in Kent is now among the top five most wanted men in Britain.

Detectives are trying to track down Malek Zafar following the reported attack in the Tonbridge area in 2018.

Anyone who knows his whereabouts is urged to call police on 101 quoting Wanted and reference 46/YY/11528/18.

Zafar is part of Crimestoppers' list of the top five most wanted fugitives hiding in the country.

The independent charity is appealing for the public’s help to find the five men, who are wanted for murder, rape and sexual assault, attempted rape, large-scale drug dealing and fraud.

Up to £5,000 is being offered for each of the men for information Crimestoppers receives that leads to their arrest.

Mick Duthie, director of operations at the charity, said: "These wanted individuals have managed to evade justice for too long. They are a danger and need to be found.

"These fugitives could be living or hiding near you, so if you recognise any of them, please contact us urgently. If you’re interested in a reward of up to £5,000, ask for a unique reward code when you contact our charity.

"Call our UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or fill in our simple and secure anonymous online form on our website. Nobody will know you contacted us.

"Tell us where they are and whilst we’ll protect your identity, you can help protect your community."

Description

A convicted sex offender who had a paedophile manual and 23,000 images of children has been jailed.

Lewis Mortimer, of Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne, was sentenced to five years in prison after being found with a stash of child abuse material.

The 42-year-old had multiple previous convictions for child sex offences and at the time of his arrest he was restricted access to the internet by the court.

These restrictions meant he was also meant to notify police of any internet enabled devices he possessed as well as details including online usernames, bank cards and passport information.

In December 2019, police were made aware Mortimer had contacted a woman online claiming to be a photographer who worked with young children.

A similar report was made to police months alter, when after contacting another woman the Sittingbourne man sent images of children being abused.

In April 2020 he was arrested at his home and had a number of his devices, including a tablet hidden in the base of his bed, seized and examined by police.

"People like him must face the consequences..."

Upon searching his phone, officers found a file of indecent images, as well as pages from a so-called paedophile manual which had explicit details of how to groom and abuse victims.

More than 23,000 images were found on his tablet, many of which were in the most extreme category.

Mortimer appeared before Maidstone Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing images, four counts of possessing indecent images and with possessing a paedophile manual.

He also admitted ten counts of breaching notification requirements and seven further counts of breaching a sexual offence prevention order.

On Friday, he was sentenced to five years in prisoner with an extended licence period of a further two years. He will remains on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Sergeant Vicky Whitmill said: "Mortimer was subject to strict measures designed to reduce the risk of him reoffending.

"He has been unable to adhere to these restrictions and has demonstrated a clear determination to access illegal and harmful images, many of which include the horrific abuse of children.

"Make no mistake, the material Mortimer deliberately sought and downloaded will have resulted from real victims suffering appalling abuse.

"He has a significant offending history and appears to have no understanding of the gravity of his actions.

"People like him must face the consequences and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure they are brought before the courts."

Description

A sex offender from Folkestone has been jailed for 14 months after assaulting a man in Canterbury City centre.

On Sunday 19 June 2022, Sasha Mazouz followed the victim into a public toilet on Canterbury Lane and – as the victim exited the cubicle – pushed him back inside and attempted to assault him. The victim escaped before the situation escalated any further and notified the police.

Officers located and arrested Mazouz, 45, of Charlotte Street, Folkestone at the scene. During the arrest, the offender made repeated attempts to engage in inappropriate language with an attending male officer.

He was charged with committing an offence with intent to committing a sexual offence and assault. He pleaded guilty to both counts.

On 12 January 2023, Mazouz appeared at Canterbury Crown Court, where the judge sentenced him to a total of 14 months imprisonment. Some of his sentence has already been served as this accounts for time Mazouz has already spent on remand.

He will also be subject to notification requirements for a period of ten years.

Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Ella Russell of the Canterbury Vulnerability Investigation Team said:

‘I would like to thank the victim for his bravery in reporting these offences and supporting the prosecution. As a result of this, we were able to make a swift arrest and ensured that Mazouz faced the consequences of his actions.

‘Kent Police takes all allegations of assault seriously and I hope that yesterday’s sentencing brings comfort to the victim involved.’

Description

An extended sentence has been imposed on a man who carried out sexually-motivated offences in Folkestone and Hythe.

Connor Baker followed an 18-year-old woman along a path near the Royal Military Canal, Hythe on Sunday 11 July 2021, before putting his hands around her waist.

The victim managed to get free of his grip and ran to Rampart Road, where she was seen by a group of her friends as they drove past.

They then drove to join another group of friends at Hythe Green. Baker was seen by the group, who asked him to explain his actions.

He became aggressive and swung an asp-type weapon at the group before leaving the area. Police arrived and Baker was later identified as a suspect.

Further offences

Further to that incident, Baker knocked on the front door of a woman who was not known to him in Folkestone on Friday 12 November 2021.

He managed to get into the property and grabbed the woman, trying to kiss her. She got him out of her home but he climbed upon a conservatory and looked in an upstairs window, damaging the victim's property in the process.

The incident was reported to police and Baker was arrested at the scene, after jumping into a nearby garden. He was later charged with a number of offences.

Court

Following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Baker was found guilty of assault with intent to commit a sexual offence and possession of an offensive weapon in relation to the first incident; and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, and damaging property in relation to the second incident.

On Friday 9 December 2022, the 24-year-old, formerly of Appledore Crescent, Folkestone, was given a nine-year sentence and ordered to serve an extra four years on licence.

Description

Jamie Gillett was convicted in 2018 of sexual offences involving children and has been subject to strict conditions on his behaviour since his release from prison.

These include restrictions around his interaction with any children, possession of mobile phones or computers and use of the internet.

On 13 May 2022, Gillett failed to attend a police station to sign his annual sex offender notification.

Officers went to his home on 26 May and arrested him. A search of his property found a fully charged mobile phone hidden behind a wardrobe and a games console with internet access.

Possession of both devices without notifying the police were breaches of his SHPO and, when the games console was checked, the investigators found he had accessed the internet using three different aliases.

Gillett, of St John’s Road, Gillingham was later charged with four counts of fail to comply with notification requirements and four counts of completing actions prohibited by a SHPO.

He pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and on Tuesday 22 November, the 25-year-old was sentenced to two years and two months’ imprisonment. This included sentencing for two counts of failing to comply with notification requirements in 2021.

Police Constable Marie Roostan, of the Medway Offender Management Unit, said: ‘We regularly visit registered sex offenders living in our communities to monitor their conduct and ensure they are complying with any conditions that are in place to prevent them re-offending.

‘In this way, we endeavour to protect the most vulnerable in our community and, where any breaches are discovered, they will be arrested and brought back before the court to answer for their actions.’

Description

Haley had previously been sentenced in 2015 to more than six years imprisonment for a sexual assault and other offences related to indecent images of children.

Upon his release, he was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which restricted his use of devices able to access the internet.

Any devices he owned would need to be made available for inspection on request by a police officer or staff.

On September 5 last year, officers made an unannounced visit to his home in Ballard Close, Marden.

After examining his phone, police discovered the 40-year-old had been accessing hundreds of illegal images, which included child sexual abuse.

Haley would use an online alias, 'Amy', and discuss abusing children with other users. He also used apps to send and receive messages and images, with settings configured to delete after viewing.

Haley was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.

He was further charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order and for failing to comply with a notification requirement, relating to the sex offenders register.

The offender from Marden pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced on October 20to four years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of a further four years. He will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Investigator Lee Sinden, of the Offender Management Unit, said: "Haley had been the subject of strict measures designed to reduce the risk of him reoffending. He has been unable to adhere to these restrictions and has demonstrated a clear determination to access illegal and harmful images, many of which include the horrific abuse of children.

"In passing this extended sentence, the judge has recognised he poses a serious risk of further offences to children. Sexual harm prevention orders are passed by the courts to help protect children and as this case shows, we will do everything we can to ensure those who ignore them face the consequences of their actions."

Description

A registered sex offender who groped a horrified teenage girl on a train at night has been jailed.

Matthew Lewis, of Sittingbourne, attacked his victim after she and a friend boarded the service at Margate station.

The 55-year-old, who has 251 previous offences for 95 convictions, was locked up at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday, where prosecutors laid out their case.

The court was told Lewis approached the girls in June last year and persistently made inappropriate comments towards both, asking to take them for a drink and suggesting they run away with him.

He continued despite both girls insisting that they were only 16.

“The girls removed themselves from their location towards other passengers and Mr Lewis sat next to them,” said Anoushka Twining, prosecuting."

She added Lewis then put her hand on the victim's leg and sexually assaulted her.

Noticing the girls looking uncomfortable, a man who was sat nearby challenged Lewis’ behaviour and a group of passengers invited the girls to sit with them further down the carriage.

The girls moved away and got off the train at Rainham, but Lewis followed.

The pair pointed him out to staff and police soon arrived and arrested him.

The court heard Lewis was in breach of a criminal behaviour order issued in 2019 at the time of the assault.

It meant Lewis would be committing a criminal offence if he was drunk on a train, or had an open alcohol container in public, outside of a licensed premises.

Lewis’ victim attended Thursday’s sentencing hearing, where she described the aftermath of his “repellent and frightening” actions, before seeing him jailed for three years.

The court heard Lewis has a “truly appalling” criminal record, with one past conviction for exposure.

Judge Mark Weekes also sentenced Lewis for various other behaviour order breaches and failing to comply with notification requirements.

The court heard Lewis was discovered intoxicated at Faversham station on July 1, and Margate station on August 7.

He was “asleep or unconscious lying next to a bottle of wine” on a train with vomit on his jumper, the prosecutor explained.

When a member of staff tried to escort him out of the station he threatened to punch them.

Lewis was released from HMP Elmley in April and gave the police an incorrect address, placing him in breach of notification requirements.

He was soon arrested and found to be in possession of amphetamines.

“Lewis is a dangerous individual who subjected a young girl to extremely unacceptable sexual behaviour, and I’m pleased to see him behind bars..."

The court heard Lewis pleaded guilty to sexual assault, breaching criminal behaviour orders, failing to comply with notification requirements and possession of a Class B drug at the lower court.

Judge Mark Weekes told Lewis, who appeared remotely from HMP Elmley: “You made it virtually your mission in life to disobey those terms [of the criminal behaviour orders].”

He branded the sexual assault a “frightening and repellent” act towards a brave girl, with his actions having a “profound effect” on her.

The judge called Lewis’s criminal record “truly appalling”, adding: “You were drunk and you were seen to be slurring your words.

“As a result of that, you approached two young girls, and one of them you sexually assaulted in a most unpleasant fashion. You were stroking her right leg in an upward direction.”

Lewis, of Deerton Street, suffers “particularly acute” difficulties with alcohol which causes “disorderly and chaotic” behaviour,” Phil Rowley said in mitigation.

He added Lewis wished to “apologise profusely” to his victim.

BTP Detective Constable Stephen Gadd, said: “Lewis is a dangerous individual who subjected a young girl to extremely unacceptable sexual behaviour, and I’m pleased to see him behind bars.

“His actions left the victim and her friend feeling hugely distressed, and I want to thank them for bravely reporting the incident and supporting our investigation. No one should experience such vile behaviour as they travel."

Lewis was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A paedophile who pretended to be a woman to lure children younger than 13 into sexual activity has been jailed for 18 years.

Jonathan Woodward, 22, from Ashford, Kent, used fake social media accounts pretending to be a woman to lure children from all over the world into sexual activity online which he then recorded.

The pervert used software to identify where his victims lived, then blackmailed and threatened the young victims using their addresses to get them to send him more graphic material.

Police investigated Woodward last year when he was reported to police after a suspected indecent image of a child was seen on his mobile phone.

The paedophile was arrested and multiple electronic devices were seized from him when police raised his home.

Many of his victims were very young children, whom he abused between 2015 and 2021.

He pleaded guilty to 39 child sex offences and was sentenced to 18 years behind bars at Guildford Crown Court yesterday.

Woodward must serve two thirds of his 18 year sentence with a further eight years as part of an extended license on his release.

Sentencing Woodward, Judge Rufus Taylor called him: 'The worst I've seen for some while.'

The sex offender was charged with two counts of rape of a child under 13, and 20 charges of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Woodward was further charged with 14 counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and with making indecent images of a child, including the most graphic of category A content, as well as category B and C.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life, banning him from unsupervised contact with children and having electronic devices he can store images on unless police can inspect it.

Detective Inspector Antony Preston, from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team, praised the brave young victims who came forward to put the horrific criminal behind bars.

He said today: 'Woodward's behaviour has impacted countless lives, and I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the bravery and courage of these young victims who have helped put this man behind bars for a long time.

'I would urge those using social media to speak out should they feel threatened or intimidated online, using online reporting functions or contacting Police to report such behaviour.

'This investigation and sentencing shows that there is no place for such vile behaviour. We will work tirelessly to ensure child sex abusers face the consequences of their actions.

'If there is anyone reading this who has been a victim of child sex abuse, I would encourage you to speak to us. We will do everything we can to support you.'

Description

A serial rapist who barged into a woman’s home and subjected her to acts of “deliberate degradation” has been jailed.

Joseph Silver, of Margate, targeted the woman and another victim over a month-long period in east Kent in 2020.

Silver, 34, was found guilty of three charges of rape and two of assault by penetration following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

He has now been jailed for 14 years after a judge ruled him "dangerous". He will serve two thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole, and another four on licence.

Judge Simon James said Silver forced his way through his first victim’s door, then “grabbed her hair and ripped her clothing off" while ignoring her pleas for him to stop.

He branded Silver “self-centred” with no “insight into the pain and anguish he had caused,” to both women.

Silver maintained a “callous attitude” towards his victims while posing as a “high risk to others,” the judge added.

"My home used to be a safe place, but it is where I feel most anxious..."

His victims handed impact statements to the court, with one describing the pain she still suffers.

The woman said her life had been “turned upside down” and she is “constantly looking over my shoulder”.

“My home used to be a safe place, but it is where I feel most anxious," she said.

“Everything I once loved about myself I now let go - feeling attractive and confident isn’t possible now.

“Living through this has shown me I am strong but also it is OK to feel all kinds of emotions about myself.

“Throughout the trial my emotions and anxiety were all over the place. Not knowing if my evidence was enough for jurors to see the truth was so stressful.”

During his trial at the same court in October last year, Silver argued his victims had consented, then conspired to have him jailed.

Both women were in court to watch Silver convicted unanimously after five hours of deliberations.

Giving evidence, his first victim told jurors: “I was scared I thought I was going to pass out - he was squeezing so tightly.

“I just said 'please don’t do this' as I realised what was coming.”

His second victim recalled: “I told him ‘no, just get off me' - but he had sex with me.”

Martin Yale, prosecuting, said if Silver “wants something for his sexual gratification” he will “take it, whatever anyone else says or does to stop him”.

Silver had recently been released from prison on licence for an unrelated matter at the time of his offending, the court heard today.

He has 27 offences for 14 convictions, including violence alongside a weapons offence and an old sex offence.

Representing Silver, John Fitzgerald said he had an “unsettled upbringing” and the delay in bringing the sentencing hearing to court was not his fault.

The court heard Silver, previously of College Road, had been assessed as posing a high risk of committing further similar offences.

Description

A pervert who downloaded images of someone performing a sex act with a dog and a horse also viewed indecent images of children including one of a toddler being raped.

Oliver Fallace, 26, from Longfield, was found to have downloaded the extreme pornographic images, and others including one of a child aged between one and three being attacked by an abuser, after police went to his address in January last year.

His mum answered the door to officers and when Fallace was asked about the images he began shaking uncontrollably and admitted to officers he may have viewed some.

Police seized a USB stick and a laptop from his home and, after analysis, found hundreds of indecent images ranging from category A, the worst sort, to category C.

Fallace, of Gorsewood Road, Hartley, was found to have downloaded 227 category A images, 444 category B and 756 category C images.

The former Gravesend Grammar School pupil was later charged with three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme pornographic images and one count of possession of prohibited images of children.

Fallace admitted all five charges when he appeared before magistrates in Maidstone in May and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, August 31.

The court heard he had downloaded 46 prohibited images of children and at least one category A image showed a toddler being raped.

The seized devices also contained five images which either showed someone performing sex acts with a dog or a horse.

Ben Wild, prosecuting, said: "He provided the pins and passwords to the devices and 110 indecent images had been deleted at some stage.

"There were still and video images found which were from three categories from A to C."

Police analysers also established the images had been downloaded from around August 2017, and Fallace had got into a pattern of searching for them.

Mr Wild added: "The category A images contained pictures of children aged one to three and up to 13 years. The category B images contain images of children aged seven to nine years and from nine years to 11 years and the category C images contained pictures of children aged seven to nine years and 11 to 13 years.

"The prohibited images showed images of eight-year-old children and the defendant made no comment during his interview with police, but did say he would never harm a child."

It was also told he had suffered from mental health issues, depression and had been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and autism as a child. It was also said that he had shown a great deal of remorse and had made progress in the past 18 months away from the path of offending.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens was told Fallace was of previous good character but was not working and was claiming Universal Credit.

The judge said: "This is not a victimless crime and you must now see this sort of abuse can ruin their lives (children in images) forever.

"One image showed a child between the age of one and three being raped, the victims in the images are very vulnerable in age.

"I accept you were a young man who has now realised what he did is wrong."

Judge St John-Stevens placed Fallace on a two-year community order which will see him complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions.

He was also placed on sexual harm prevention order for seven years and must now sign the sex offenders' register.

Fallace was also ordered to pay £200 costs.

Description

A man has been jailed after his victim spoke out about being sexually assaulted as a child.

Christopher James Medes was handed a five-year sentence after being convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a minor.

The 33-year-old, whose address was given as Old Road West, Gravesend, had denied the charges.

But he was convicted following a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court in July and sentenced last month.

The jury found him guilty of engaging in sexual (non penetrative) activity with a minor and three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Medes was made subject to a serious harm prevention order to remain in place indefinitely and also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The victim told the court how numerous visits to the police station to report the crime and countless phone calls had left her "feeling dirty" as she waited years for her abuser to be brought to justice.

In her victim impact statement, the woman described how she had suffered depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder following the ordeal.

"I have had to explain my abuse to many strangers," she said. "Imagine being a child, a little girl and having to explain sexualised abuse to police officers, psychologists, counsellors and family members.

"It was embarrassing, degrading and left me feeling dirty every time.

"Waiting for years and being forced to go through a court case because my abuser refused to admit what he had done is a trauma that I will never recover from."

But following the verdict and her abuser's conviction she said she could now "stand proud".

"I was believed," she said. "Twelve strangers, members of the jury took a short time to unanimously believe me, believe the truth and I will forever be thankful for that.

Description

A pervert who repeatedly exposed himself to women near a school has been jailed.

Serial flasher Iskren Ganchev tormented villagers in Otford, near Sevenoaks, over a 10-day period in June.

Between June 2 and June 11 he exposed himself to three woman in the village, off Pickmoss Lane, before performing indecent acts.

During one incident the 35-year-old called a woman over and grabbed her arm.

Another victim was able to take a photo of the suspect as she made her way to safety.

Ganchev, of no fixed address, was caught after investigating officers noticed he was carrying the same shopping bag and watched CCTV from a store which had the same branding.

Footage was examined and the offender was arrested on June 19 in Halstead after a media appeal was sent out.

"His appalling behaviour was carried out in an area very close to a school..."

Searches at the address he was found at uncovered the same clothing and shoes he was described as wearing during the offences.

During a police interview Ganchev accepted he was present during the allegations but denied any wrongdoing, claiming there had been a "misunderstanding".

He went on to admit guilt at Medway Magistrates' Court to a charge of outraging public decency and two counts of indecent exposure.

On Friday, August 12, he was sentenced to a year in prison and was placed on the sex offenders' list for five years.

Detective Sergeant Alan Poulton, of the West Kent Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: "Ganchevs disturbing actions will have had a significant and detrimental impact on each of his victims.

"His appalling behaviour was carried out in an area very close to a school and would have also caused significant alarm and anxiety within the wider community.

"In passing a custodial sentence, the courts have recognised the threat that Ganchev would have continued to pose, and we remain determined that everyone should feel safe to walk the streets whenever they choose to, and will continue to do everything in our power to keep it that way."