Search results for East Sussex

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A "dangerous paedophile" who pretended to be a teenager in order to rape a teenage girl has been jailed for eight years.

Oliver James, formerly of Marine Drive, Bishopstone, East Sussex, contacted his victim on social media app Snapchat and agreed to meet her in woodland in Newhaven.

Initially claiming to be 16 years old, then later 19, he was actually 29 at the time, Sussex Police said.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, reported her experience and James was arrested and charged.

A police spokesperson said the victim had agreed to meet James in the Denton area of Newhaven at about 07:00 BST on 3 May,

The girl told James she did not want to have sex with him, but he forced himself on her before leaving the area, police said.

The victim later confided in a friend and her mother before reporting the matter to the police.

Appearing for sentencing at Hove Crown Court on Tuesday, James was jailed after admitting the charges of rape and sexual assault.

He was also made the subject of a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and will remain a registered sex offender indefinitely.

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A paedophile who raped and sexually assaulted two young girls has been jailed.

John Armsby, 47, repeatedly abused the girls, who were under the age of 13, between 2017 and 2022.

The offences were reported to Sussex Police on January 24, 2022, and Armsby was arrested two days later.

Armsby of Ninfield Road in Bexhill, had his home searched and digital devices were found containing indecent images of children.

He was charged with five counts of rape of a child under 13, five counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13, assaulting a child under 13 by penetration, three counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

A jury found him guilty of all charges at Lewes Crown Court this March 26.

At the same court on June 6, Armsby was sentenced to 24 years in prison, with another four to be spent on extended licence.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, indefinite Restraining Orders against both victims and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

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A delivery driver from Peacehaven who raped a young girl and sexually assaulted another has been jailed.

In December, 2021, police received a report of a girl under the age of five having been sexually assaulted multiple times.

Officers visited the girl and her family to gather evidence and offer specialist support while Matthew Barca, 31, of South Coast Road in Peacehaven was arrested the same day.

During the course of the investigation a second victim – now a woman in her 20s – reported being raped and sexually assaulted by Barca when she was a child between 2005 and 2008.

Barca was aged between 13 and 15 at the time of the earlier offences.

He was subsequently charged with eight counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of rape of a child under 13, two counts of assault of a child by penetration and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was also charged with possession of indecent images of children.

At Lewes Crown Court on 4 August, he pleaded guilty to all counts.

At the same court on Wednesday, 3 January, Barca was jailed for a total of nine years and eight months, with an additional four years and four months to be spent on extended licence after the court found him to be a danger to the public.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order significantly reducing his access to children and digital devices, placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and given restraining orders against his victims.

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Now known as Damien Gibbons

An East Sussex man has been convicted of attempted sexual communication with a child online.

Following a three-day trial from Monday 18 December at Guildford Crown Court, Damien Gibbons, formerly known as Damien Cotgreave, 48, of High Street, Hailsham, was found guilty of attempted online sexual communication with a child.

At the time of his arrest in February 2020 for this offence, he was a Sussex Police officer.

He was later charged with the offence in the name of Cotgreave in April 2021.
He was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which severely restricts his access to children and computers.

The prosecution, authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, followed an investigation by the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) of Sussex Police which began when information was received from a member of the public in February 2020.

POLIT crime investigator Michelle Shepherd said: "Cotgreave thought he was talking to a 13-year old girl, and engaged in very explicit sexual conversation, but he was in fact talking to an adult member of the public who reported their concerns to the police, and we immediately took action to arrest him and ensure no actual child could come to harm.

"We will always take action on such reports and anyone who has suspicions about this type of activity should contact the police immediately.

At the time of his arrest in February 2020, Cotgreave was a Detective Constable in Sussex Police but was suspended when he was arrested. At a separate public misconduct hearing in January 2021, he was found to have committed multiple breaches of professional standards, on evidence separate to this current prosecution, and he would have been dismissed from the force had he not already resigned.

As a result of this finding, he has been placed on the College of Policing Barred and Advisory list which will prevent his re-entry into law enforcement. The internal disciplinary investigation culminating in the misconduct hearing, resulted from information that came to light during this criminal investigation by POLIT.

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A man who sexually assaulted five women as they walked in public in Bexhill has been given a seven-year sentence.

Max Wright, 27, formerly of Amherst Road in Bexhill, was charged with five counts of sexual assault relating to three separate incidents between November, 2022 and June, 2023.

The first incident was reported on 20 November, 2022. A woman walking alone from Bexhill Railway Station the night before was grabbed and sexually assaulted by a man giving the name of Maximiliano.

She engaged him in conversation to placate him, before running away from the scene.

An investigation was launched the next day including extensive CCTV trawls and house to house enquiries, but a suspect could not be identified.

Overnight on 15/16 April, 2023, three women walking from Cooden Railway Station were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a man who threatened to rape them before fleeing the scene.

It was reported on 16 April and officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team visited the scene the same day, carried out enquiries and identified a suspect.

Wright was arrested the next day, linked to both incidents and released on conditional bail while further enquiries were carried out.

In the early hours of 24 June, another woman was sexually assaulted while walking in Bexhill by a man who threatened to rape her.

She was on the phone to a friend at the time and managed to capture brief footage of the attack.

Wright was swiftly identified as a suspect, arrested within hours and subsequently charged with five counts of sexual assault.

He pleaded guilty to all counts on 24 July at Hove Crown Court.

At the same court on 1 December, Wright was given a four-year jail sentence, with another three years to be spent on licence. He was also given restraining orders against each victim and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

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A construction worker who raped a three-year-old child has been given a 31-year sentence.

Bradley Martin, 29, of Chandler Road in Bexhill, raped his victim multiple times between April and October, 2022.

Police were made aware after the childs mother took them to hospital for examination after finding unexplained injuries. Hospital staff in Hastings raised concerns to Sussex Police and an investigation was launched.

Martin was arrested on 26 October, 2022, and his phone revealed incriminating searches including how do police know if something has been penetrated? and how many years for sex offenders in Bexhill?.

Officers also found 127 illegal images of extreme pornography involving both animals and humans.

He was subsequently charged with three counts of rape of a child under 13 and remanded in custody.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges, but at Hove Crown Court on Monday, 3 July, was found guilty of each of the offences.

At Hove Crown Court on Friday (29 September), Martin was sentenced to 23 years in prison, with another eight to be spent on extended licence.

He will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life and was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order significantly restricting his access to children and digital devices.

Detective Constable Kelly Yates, of Hastings Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: Bradley Martin abused his young victim in the most heinous way, uncovered thanks to the care of the childs mother and diligence of medical professionals.

My thanks go to the victim and their family for their courage and determination through what has been an extremely difficult process.

With their support we have been able to put Martin behind bars for a significant amount of time and put steps in place to ensure he can cause no further harm to the public.

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A man who sexually assaulted and took over 100 indecent images of a child is starting a five-year prison sentence.

William Reid, 35, of Dorset Road, Bexhill, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday, 2 August after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault by touching and digital penetration, and six counts of making indecent images of a child in 2021.

His victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was a girl under the age of 18 who was known to him.

Reid will be a registered sex offender for life and was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which restricts his access to females under the age of 18 and limits his use and accessibility to digital devices and systems, for life.

Investigating officer Sergeant Ollie Bali said: “I would like to praise the young victim for the incredible bravery she has shown throughout this investigation. Reid’s conviction and Sexual Harm Prevention Order should ensure he is unable to cause any further harm to her, or any other child or young person in the community.

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David Robert Stingemore, 68, was already serving an 18-and-a-half-year prison term for other child-sex offences in the 80s including raping a little girl in Scarborough on numerous occasions, York Crown Court heard.

But evidence of yet more sickening crimes came to light in 2020 when another victim, now an adult, came forward to police about the shocking abuse she had suffered at the hands of Stingemore when he was in his late 20s and early 30s.

Stingemore initially denied the offences when quizzed by police in May 2022, but ultimately admitted two counts of indecent assault against the girl and one count of indecency with a child.

Prosecutor David Povall said the indecent-assault offences involved penetration on 10 separate occasions.

He said that Stingemore, formerly of Eastfield and Barrowcliff, had been sentenced for child-sex offences on three previous occasions, the most recent being in January 2020 when he was jailed for more than 18 years and placed on the sex-offenders’ register for a “campaign of rape” against another young girl in the 1980s and indecently assaulting a young boy.

During those appalling acts of abuse, the terrified girl would be in tears and plead with Stingemore to leave her alone, but he would force her to perform sex acts on him before raping her while telling her, “I love this”.

The female victim in that case said her life had been ripped apart by Stingemore’s evil acts and the male victim had also suffered a lifetime of trauma following the abuse.

Stingemore had previously been jailed in 1987 for indecently assaulting another young girl and there were also sexual offences against young boys when Stingemore was a child himself.

The latest victim finally came forward to police in January 2020 after reading about Stingemore’s offences against the other children in the press.

Mr Povall said there were “repeated” occasions when Stingemore carried out penetrative sexual acts on the girl who was warned not to tell anyone about what had happened.

Stingemore, who was living in East Sussex before his incarceration in 2020, appeared for sentence via video link today from a custody a suite at HMP Albany in the Isle of Wight.

In a statement read out in court, the victim, now an adult, said the abuse had had “many effects on my life, some of which still cause me problems all these years later”.

“Throughout my life I’ve struggled with my emotions and often found I cried over silly things,” she added.

She struggled to trust and form relationships with men and would often “hide myself away, not wanting to face anyone or talk to anyone”.

She had sought help for her problems and was on medication for anxiety and depression.

Kevin Blount, Stingemore’s solicitor advocate, said the serial sex offender’s only mitigation were his guilty pleas.

Judge Simon Hickey said that Stingemore had admitted “three more extremely serious sexual offences” against an “extremely young girl”.

He said that Stingemore had subjected the girl to “degradation” and the “prolonged, sustained” sexual attacks had led to “lifelong, severe psychological harm”.

Stingemore was jailed for six years and eight months. The sentence will run consecutively to his existing prison sentence, which means Stingemore may spend the rest of his days behind bars.

As an “offender of particular concern”, he will also have to serve an extended three-year period on prison licence should he ever be released from jail.

Mr Hickey said that Stingemore would remain on the sex-offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

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An ex-doctor who sexually assaulted a patient after visiting her at home has been jailed for 18 months for the offence.

Simon Abraham, 34, of Penrith Way, Eastbourne, was working at Eastbourne District General Hospital when he contacted the female patient, who had been discharged after treatment.

Abraham had told the woman that he had a call from a colleague who was "concerned about her condition". The offender then said that he had been trained in specialist massage in India for two years and could visit her.

She agreed to his visit but during the massage he sexually assaulted her. He left when a visitor came to the house, but continued to phone her afterwards.

The patient then contacted the hospital who advised her that they would investigate, but she should also contact police. An investigation was launched and Abraham was arrested.

After a four day trial at Chichester Crown Court on May 26, Abraham was found guilty of sexual assault. He was sentenced on July 14 to 18 months in prison, with nine months custodial and nine months on licence.

The court also heard how he will be placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years and is subject to a five year restraining order to protect the victim from contact by him. DC Jo Gledhill said: "Abraham took advantage of the victim's pain, fraudulently accessing her patient details even though he wasn't officially treating her, and then visiting her when he finished work, claiming that he could massage her headache away.

"When he was arrested, he denied that it happened at all, but then asked for a further interview where he admitted going to her house, but did not sexually touch her. We will always take reports of this nature very seriously and specially trained officers will deal with your call. If you have been sexually assaulted, please contact us and we will investigate."

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A man from East Sussex who travelled to Nepal and the Philippines to sexually abuse children, and coached others online how to groom victims, has been jailed for 21 years imprisonment and seven years extended licence period.

A National Crime Agency investigation was launched in 2019 into a prolific user of a dark web child abuse site called ‘Boyvids4’, after it was identified they were likely based in the UK.

Using the pseudonym ‘Globetrotter’, the individual shared his own experiences of abusing children, and gave extremely detailed advice to a large number of users on where best to travel to find victims, as well as how to approach them.

He also gave technical guidance on encrypting devices and how to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Investigators were able to attribute the online pseudonym to David Mould, 68, who was living in Seaford and he was arrested in April 2020.

On the same day, NCA officers searched his house and workplace, seizing a large number of electronic and digital storage devices.

Mould had saved some of his chat logs from the site on a hard drive. These highlighted the standing which other paedophiles placed him in, with many thanking him for his advice.

One said: “you have been a great deal of help to me, you should write a paedo guide to help rookies like me not to make stupid mistakes and take advantage of opportunities.”

Another stated: “Well you have done just about everything except buy me a plane ticket, bring the boy to my room and unzip him… This gave me the information to come up with a real plan of attack.”

Mould had arranged to meet with that same user in Nepal and introduce him to some young boys who he had abused in the past. In later chats, the user confirms he travelled to the country, and describes how he took one of the boys back to his hotel room and engaged in sexual activity with him.

The user was identified by the NCA as an American man named Michael Taylor and this information was shared with US partners. As a result, Taylor was arrested in Nepal in March 2021 and is currently serving 14 years in prison there for child sex offences.

Investigators matched Mould’s travel history to the frequent trips to the Philippines and Nepal he discussed with other users, during which he abused children. He also had a collection of indecent images and videos of his victims.

They were also able to prove that Mould had made several payments to individuals in both countries. This included money sent to an adult in the Philippines who introduced him to children as young as 13 to abuse.

Mould travelled to Nepal four times between 2016-2019. Officers analysing his phone recovered chats with young Nepalese boys, in which he makes arrangements to meet them at his hotel when they finish school.

The NCA shared evidence from the investigation with international law enforcement. Three children have since been safeguarded in the Philippines.

In total, over 100,000 indecent images of children in categories A-C, together with four interactive paedophile manuals detailing techniques on how to abuse children and avoid detection, were recovered from one of Mould’s hard drives.

Mould pleaded guilty to 24 charges, including four counts of engaging in sexual activity with children as young as 13, and 10 relating to encouraging or inciting the exploitation of children.

He was sentenced today [23/06/2023] at Lewes Crown Court to 21 years imprisonment and seven years extended licence period. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life, placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, a forfeiture order for the destruction of devices where indecent image of children were found and a restraining order against victims.

Hazel Stewart from the National Crime Agency said:

“David Mould is a prolific sexual predator, who dedicated his time and money to abusing children and encouraging others to do the same.

“It was clear that he was respected and admired by other like-minded individuals online, where he provided offenders with a safe environment in which their sexual inclinations were validated.

“Mould took gratification from knowing that the advice he gave led directly to others carrying out abuse.

“Offenders like him think that by travelling to remote parts of the world to conduct their abuse, and by using anonymisation techniques online, they won’t get caught.

“However, the NCA has the capabilities to identify and disrupt the most dangerous offenders. Borders are not a barrier; we work closely with international partners to ensure that Britons committing offences abroad are prosecuted in the UK and vulnerable children are safeguarded, wherever they are in the world.”

The judge commended NCA officers and law enforcement in the Philippines and Nepal.

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A twisted predator posed as a taxi driver to sexually attack two women after giving them lifts home. Graham Head, 66, had ambushed one victim by dragging her into a bush, while another had awoken in the back of his car to find him attempting to rape her.

It was later discovered that he kept latex gloves, condoms, Viagra tablets and a balaclava in his car. Head has now been found guilty of kidnap, attempted rape and assault by penetration and is facing a jail sentence.

The first incident was reported by a woman in her late teens on August 19 after she was dragged into the bushes in Hove Park, Sussex, by a man during the early hours of the morning. Prior to the assault, she had received a lift from him from Brighton to Hove Park.

He attempted to rape her but fled the scene when the victim’s mobile began to ring. She later described her attacker as a 40 to 50-year-old short man wearing a face mask.

CCTV showed the victim approaching a silver Mercedes estate, which was then tracked through the city centre and doorbell footage showed him driving slowly along the road near Hove Park.

In another incident four months later on November 18, a woman in her 20s woke up in a vehicle that she believed to be a taxi with a man sexually assaulting her. She had earlier got into what she thought was a taxi taking her from Brighton to Hove.

She managed to escape and called the police at 3.10am and was able to remember three digits of the car’s registration plate. Officers were able to locate the vehicle within minutes and stopped it in Preston Circus following a short pursuit.

Head was discovered wearing a face mask, with the victim’s mobile phone found discarded by the roadside along the route Head had taken during the pursuit. He was arrested on suspicion of kidnap, attempted rape and failing to stop a vehicle when asked to do so.

Following this, he was later connected to the August attack and charged with kidnap, attempted rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault. Since being convicted, the man, of Coast Road in Pevensey, has been remanded into custody to await sentencing.

Detective Constable Elliott Lander from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team said: “Graham Head is a predatory offender who gained the trust of these victims by posing as a taxi driver, only to take advantage of vulnerable women in the most abhorrent ways.

“The items found in his car show the callous, pre-meditated nature of his crimes as he moved through Brighton and Hove looking for potential victims.

“Thanks to the quick-thinking and bravery of these two women, we were quickly able to connect Head to both incidents and bring him to justice. I would like to thank them both for their support during this investigation.

“Without them, this dangerous individual could still be at large. Instead, he has been brought to justice and the streets of Brighton and Hove are safer as a result.

“We believe Head may have further victims who have not yet come forward. If you believe you may have been a victim, or have any information which could help, please contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Cooper. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”

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Trevor Poole of Howard Place, Brighton, is also known as Trevor Madison.

A 60-year-old man has been sentenced after being found guilty of an historical indecent assault on a boy which took place in the Corby area.

Trevor Poole, also known as Trevor Madison, of Howard Place, Brighton, sexually assaulted a boy in Corby.

A 60-year-old man has been sentenced after being found guilty of an historical indecent assault on a boy which took place in the Corby area.

Trevor Poole, also known as Trevor Madison, of Howard Place, Brighton, sexually assaulted a boy in Corby.

Poole was arrested and denied the offence however following a three-day trial at Northampton Crown Court in November of last year, was found guilty by a jury.

Last month (January 20) at the same court, he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

Lead investigator – Detective Constable Helen Campbell, said: “This has been a very lengthy process for the survivor in this case and I hope that the conclusion provides him with some much-needed closure and the knowledge that Trevor Poole has been recognised as the sex offender he is.

“I want to thank him for his support, persistence and courage, qualities he has shown throughout this investigation, and I hope he can move forward with his life with less weight on his shoulders.

“Though nothing will never make up for the effect the assault had on him, I hope he is proud of the courage and determination he has shown.

“Northamptonshire Police takes reports of this nature extremely seriously and we will do all we can to bring the offender to justice.

“We will believe you, we will support and we will do all we can to get you the justice you deserve. I hope this case demonstrates that fact and that it doesn’t matter how much time has passed.”

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A man has been jailed for abusing a young girl.

Paul Latham was found guilty of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15 in Brighton at Hove Crown Court.

The court heard how Latham, then aged 47, knew the girl was underage, but engaged in sexual activity with her at addresses in Hove and Woodingdean.

In November last year, the jury found him guilty of two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with the victim.

Latham, now 65, was found not guilty of rape.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison by Judge Jeremy Gold KC.

Unemployed Latham, of Wicklands Avenue, Saltdean, will serve a minimum of six years before he can be considered for parole, and will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

The judge also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order which restricts Latham’s access to children.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, described how she had felt degraded because of the abuse, and continues to have anxiety.

She felt that Latham had taken advantage of her as a child, but is now rebuilding her life and is happy that justice has been served.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Andy Lawrence said the victim received support from specially-trained officers after she made her report in 2018.

With support from Detective Constable Lisa Hampson from the sexual offences investigation team, they were able to bring the charges against Latham to secure the conviction.

DS Lawrence said: “Predatory sex offender Paul Latham has now faced justice for preying on a young teenage girl.

“The victim in this case showed extraordinary bravery and tenacity. She has remained determined through a very difficult period.

“We have worked tirelessly to secure this conviction. Victims of sexual offences will always be supported and we take their report seriously.

“We  hope that the outcome of this case will give victims of sexual offences the confidence to come forward and report information to us.

“No matter how long ago the offence was we will try to seek justice.”

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A paedophile football coach has been jailed for ten years after he abused eight boys, as young as 11, between 1966 and 2000.

Gerald Highgate, 83, who was a serial sex offender who carried out his abuse for more than three decades, appeared at Guilford Crown Court in Surrey today.

Victims said he had destroyed their childhoods and used their love of football against them.

Judge Micahel Hunter told the sex predator: ‘You groomed boys, possibly as young as 11, over a very long period from 1966 to 2000, a period of 34 years.

‘Had you admitted these offences and spared your victims from the trauma of coming to court and giving evidence in this trial, you would have substantially reduced your sentence.’

Highgate, who coached at the Surrey club’s Chipstead FC and Bletchingley Rifle Club, where he carried out 30 offences against eight boys.

He was convicted after a six-week trial.

Catherine Donnelly for the Crown told the jury: ‘Highgate appears to have been adept at grooming both adults and children and appears to have conducted himself in this way over a significant period of time.

‘On occasion he would use money and treats as a way of placating the children or rewarding them for allowing him to abuse them.’

Police believe there could be many more victims of Highgate who are yet to come forward.

One of Highgate’s victims read out his impact statement to the court, stating he had felt anger, shame and disgust ever since the abuse began.

He told the court: ‘Ultimately, I hate you for abusing me. I loved football and you took that from me.

‘I have lived with what you did for all these years. I only hope I can get the justice I deserve, and I can move on.’

Other victims said they had struggled with relationships throughout their lives after suffering at the hands of Highgate.

Another man said: ‘The stigma of being abused has affected me in so many ways and I have only really come to terms with it in later life.’

Guildford Crown Court heard how parents looked up to him as a respected figure in the community.

Judge Hunter described Highgate’s offending as a serious breach of trust.

He said: ‘The boys were in your care, you were looking after those boys as members of the junior team of which you were the leader, mentor and coach.

‘Many of those boys looked up to you. Certainly, many of the parents admired, respected and looked up to you.

‘In some cases, they were seriously mistaken.’

Highgate pushed his hearing aid through the toughened glass panels of the dock at Guildford Crown Court before being told he was sentenced to a total of ten years in prison for 30 offences against eight boys.

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Gary Nash, who sexually assaulted a young girl for around a ten-year period, has now faced justice with a 16-year sentence following an investigation by safeguarding detectives.

Nash, 39, of Tower Road, St Leonards, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Thursday (September 8), having previously admitted two offences of sexual assault and one offence of attempting to engage in a penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13.

He was given a 16-year sentence eight years of which will be served in custody, with the remaining eight years on extended licence. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Detective Sergeant Oliver Bali of the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "Nash took advantage of his access to the victim to exploit her for his own sexual gratification without anyone else knowing, until earlier this year when she finally found the courage to speak out.

"We started enquiries at once, and swiftly arrested Nash, who admitted all the offences. He would undoubtedly have continued to offend against her, had she not very bravely reported him.