Locations
Halls Hole Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2
Description
An 80-year-old child rapist has been jailed for more than 20 years.
Michael Merron was ordered to serve a 24-year sentence following a four-week trial in which a jury found him guilty of multiple child sex offences.
These offences included charges of rape, sexual assault of a child under 13 and indecent assault.
His offending was reported to have happened between 2002 and 2014 and involved three children.
Following the allegations officers launched an investigation. While making enquiries they identified a fourth victim who disclosed that between 1985 and 1986, when they were aged 18, Merron had also sexually assaulted them. The jury also found him guilty of this offence.
The pensioner, formerly of Halls Hole Road, Tunbridge Wells, was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 30 April 2026.
As well as being sentenced to 24 years (23 years in custody and one year on licence) he was added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Alice Comben said:
‘Merron was a predatory opportunist who carried out his offending when he was alone with each victim, ensuring they felt isolated and he felt in control.
‘I want to commend the bravery of each victim. Their courage to disclose his offending has ensured his criminality has been exposed, and he will now spend a significant time behind bars.
‘Anyone who is a victim of sexual abuse, or wishes to report a suspected offender, can do so in the knowledge that specialist officers will thoroughly and diligently investigate any allegations.’