Locations
Hunts Mead, Sherbourne, Dorset & Goodlands Cale, Hedge End
Description
TWO people have been jailed for a catalogue of sexual offences committed against three girls in Southampton over a 12-year period.
Two of the victims were sitting in court as Kim Raquet and Tina Haynes were locked up for 12 years and three years respectively.
The offences were committed between 1981 and 1993, when the girls were aged nine-15.
Following a trial at Southampton Crown Court Raquet, 61, of Goodlands Cale, Hedge End, was convicted of six offences of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.
Haynes, 57, of Hunts Mead, Sherbourne, Dorset, was convicted of three counts of child cruelty and one of indecency with a child.
The crimes came to light after after police were finally alerted in 2017, the court heard.
In a personal impact statement read to the court one of the victims said: "One of the hardest things I had to do was tell my husband and children what happened to me and ask for their support.
"Having to tell my parents was so difficult. To see them visibly upset made me so angry."
Referring to the ordeal of giving evidence at the trial she added: "I have never been so scared, nervous and humiliated in my life."
Richard Tutt, representing Haynes, said: "She has asked me to make an apology in open court to the two victims of her offending. She is extremely sorry for what they went through."
Mr Tutt said Haynes's co-defendant was "verbally violent" towards her.
He added: "She took the course of least resistance and did not confront Raquet. She accepts she could and should have acted differently.
"Over the past 32 years she has led an unblemished life."
Helen Easterbrook, representing Raquet, said the people he worked with had always regarded him as an outstanding member of the community. She also referred to his voluntary work.
Judge Christopher Parker QC said the victims suffered "severe psychological harm" as a result of being abused "again and again".
He told the defendants: "The harm you caused - particularly you Mr Raquet - could only be assessed as severe. This investigation and the trial process has touched the rawest of nerves.
"The vast majority of the offences were committed not over days, weeks or months but over years."
Judge Parker said Raquet was the main perpetrator but told Haynes: "You had plenty of choices you could exercise which these girls could not."
Speaking after the case Detective Constable Mark Harris said: “I cannot praise the victims enough for the bravery and courage they have shown in reporting what happened. The actions of Raquet and Haynes have had a significant impact on their lives.
“I hope this sentence goes some way in helping them move forward.
“I also hope this sentence will encourage others who have suffered this type of abuse, no matter when it happened, to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work hard to bring offenders to justice.”