Locations
Old Road West, Gravesend, Kent, DA11
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.