Locations
Twyford Avenue, Great Wakering, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, SS3
Description
A DETECTIVE who brought a despicable child rapist to justice has praised the bravery of two victims for giving evidence at his trial.
DC James Fowler, of Essex Polices Child Abuse Investigation Team, said 52-year-old Patrick Wakefield acted in a completely abhorrent way towards two girls.
Wakefield, of Twyford Avenue, Great Wakering, was jailed for 13 years at Basildon Crown Court after being found guilty at trial of a string of child sex offences, including two counts of rape.
The court heard how the predator left his victims badly scarred.
Judge Ian Graham said: You used your interest of photography to get alone time with these girls.
You bought them presents and gave them money to peruse this course of conduct.
The remorse you speak of would have been more open if you had admitted these crimes and saved these girls going through a trial.
Its clear they were left badly scarred by the experiences.
Mitigating, Christopher Martin told the court Wakefield had lived in poverty as a child which has severely impacted his life.
Mr Fowler said: Patrick Wakefield has been rightly jailed for his despicable actions.
"He acted in a completely abhorrent way towards his two victims, including forcing them to give evidence at his trial by denying any wrongdoing.
Patrick Wakefield has been made a registered sex offender and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order preventing him from going near children in the future will go some way to protecting other children."
He added: I want to praise both victims for their courage and bravery in coming forward and reporting their abuse to us, and in having the strength to give evidence at court, playing a part in stopping this man from offending against another child.
They have stood strong throughout the judicial process with the love and support of their families. I would hope that this sentence will play some part in giving their families some form of closure.
They have expressed their sincere thanks and gratitude to us for our hard work and dedication throughout the investigation, and for the support shown to their children.
I would also like to urge other victims of abuse to come forward, to report any concerns and to know that they too will be supported by our specialist teams.