Search results for Kent

Description

A registered sex offender from Medway has been jailed again after police seized a secret phone containing more than 600 animated images depicting children being abused.

Stuart Wenham had only been released from prison in March 2025, when he ignored strict measures passed by the courts to prevent him from reoffending and accessed material which included the abuse of an infant under a year old.

Wenham had previously been convicted in 2023, for making indecent images of children.

When he was granted parole he was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and had to comply with notification requirements linked to his use of devices and software.

Multiple breaches 

Shortly after his release, officers suspected he was using two phones but had only notified police about one of them.

He was arrested on 6 June and this led to the seizure of the unregistered phone.

When reviewed, it was found to contain a catalogue of ‘pseudo-cartoon’ images linked to the sexual abuse of children.

Wenham had also been illegally using a VPN and during previous checks by specialist officers who manage sex offenders had repeatedly failed to declare the phone.

Further evidence was revealed after a laptop was examined which Wenham had also kept secret. This showed prohibited use of cloud storage and the deletion of his internet history.

When questioned during police interviews, he told officers that in his mind the images showing abuse were not of real children and that they appeared to be happy.

Wenham, 47, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to multiple breaches of a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with notification requirements. He also admitted possessing a prohibited image of a child.

On 12 September 2025, he was described by the judge as ‘a dangerous man’ with a long record of appalling similar offences.

He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. 

Cartoons never an excuse

Leading the investigation was PC Leona Valsler, who said:

‘Wenham has been given every opportunity to change his ways but has chosen again to pursue and obtain abhorrent and disturbing material.

'Having cartoons, rather than real videos showing children being abused, can be no excuse and Wenham has repeatedly shown a flagrant disregard for the important measures and restrictions imposed to prevent him from reoffending.

‘This case demonstrates the vital work our officers and staff do to closely monitor and manage convicted sex offenders in our communities.

'Despite the challenges, we remain committed to using every available legal and investigative tool to prevent further harm, protect vulnerable children, and bring offenders to justice. Wenham’s actions are another reminder of why this work is so critical.’

Description

A horse-riding instructor has been jailed and made the subject of a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order for offences against children.

Mitchell Hickey sexually abused two young victims, hitting one with a whip, and coerced a third into sending explicit photos.

Hickey, who carried out a string of targeted assaults between 2017 and 2019, also bombarded the girls with indecent videos via Snapchat, a platform known for automatically deleting messages once read.

Officers were alerted to the offending in January 2022 when an ex-member of the riding school, based in the Tunbridge Wells area, became concerned for other vulnerable girls under Hickey’s care.  

The riding instructor was arrested and, following a thorough investigation which included a review of his devices, he was charged with nine sex offences including sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, and sexual communication with a child.

The 25 year old initially denied the charges, but later pleaded guilty to seven offences at Maidstone Crown Court.

Sentenced

Hickey was sentenced to three years and four months’ imprisonment at the same court on Monday 22 September.

Investigating officer, DC Amy Mulrey, said:

‘Hickey abused his position of power to take advantage of young and vulnerable girls for his own gratification.

‘It is a rare instance in which an offender is made the subject of a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which shows the seriousness of Hickey’s offending.

‘He acted with little thought to the impact of his actions on the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of his victims.

‘We are grateful for the support of the victims and their families, and hope that the custodial sentence offers some comfort.’

Description

A 42 year old man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison following his conviction for the rape of two teenage girls in Deal.

Steven Biggs, of Owen Square, Deal, was found guilty of multiple offences following a three day trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

The incident took place in the early hours of 4 August 2020 when Biggs encountered two girls, aged 13 and 14 outside of a residential property on Freemans Way, Deal. The victims had approached him in the front garden and asked him for a cigarette.

Upon inviting them into the house, Biggs coerced one of the girls into a bedroom and raped her. When the victim attempted to leave with her friend, who had been waiting outside the property, Biggs forcibly brought both girls back inside, where he carried out further rapes.

It was reported to Kent Police on 3 September 2020 that two teenage girls had been subject to a violent rape, after one of the victims disclosed the assault to a family member.

Following the report, detectives launched an immediate investigation into the allegations, which led to Biggs being arrested on 29 November 2020. He was later charged with 10 sexual offences, including three counts of rape.

During his three day trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Biggs refused to take the stand and declined to give evidence. The jury returned a unanimous verdict on 24 September 2025, and he was found guilty.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison and will also be subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely and restrictions imposed by a 25-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Linda Gavin said:

‘This was a deeply disturbing crime involving the violent abuse of two young girls. Steven Biggs showed a complete disregard for their wellbeing and inflicted life changing trauma through his actions. I want to commend the bravery and courage that both victims have shown throughout this investigation, their contributions have played a vital part in delivering justice.

’Biggs is a violent criminal, and I am pleased that he has received a lengthy prison sentence that will prevent him from causing harm to any other potential young victims.’

Description

A predatory sex offender has been jailed for six years, having breached a previously imposed Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Jonah Albanese was arrested on Tuesday 18 March 2025 at his home in Snargate Street, Dover. As part of a previous sexual offence conviction in 2024, monitoring software had been installed on his devices and had alerted police of a potential breach.

A search was conducted of the property, uncovering two mobile phones owned by the 30 year old. One of these contained indecent videos of children and showed a conversation with a man in which Albanese attempted to arrange sex with two children.

At a Canterbury Crown Court hearing on Tuesday 22 April 2025, he admitted to nine charges including breaching his SHPO, failing to meet sex offender notification requirements, possessing indecent images of children and attempting to arrange the sexual assault of a child.

He was sentenced to six years in prison with an additional four years on licence at his sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 18 September 2025.

Detective Constable Nichola Shepherd said:

‘This sentence shows the effectiveness of SHPOs in monitoring sex offenders and preventing more children from becoming the victims of paedophiles like Albanese.

‘Albanese was well aware of the conditions of his order, and yet he continued with his actions regardless. I’d like to thank my colleagues for their thorough work in ensuring he faces the consequences of those actions.’

Description

A Medway rapist whose offending was disclosed by a young victim to a school worker has been jailed for 16 years.

George Payne-Woodham, formerly of Grange Road, Gillingham, was found guilty of multiple offences following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Investigation

It was reported to Kent Police on 26 September 2024 that a child had told a member of school staff that they had been subjected to sexual abuse over several years.

Specialist detectives from the force launched an immediate investigation and Payne-Woodham was arrested later that day. On 28 September 2024, he was charged.

The offender, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted on all counts by a jury of child rape, inciting a child into sexual activity and sexual assault of a child.

Jailed

On Friday 12 September 2025, Payne-Woodham, 21, was sentenced to 16 years in prison and will have to serve at least two thirds of the custodial period before he is eligible for parole. Under the terms of an extended sentence, he will spend a further four years on licence when he is released.

He will also be subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely and restrictions imposed by a 25 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Conor Middleton said:

'Payne-Woodham is an abhorrent criminal who subjected a young victim to appalling sexual abuse on numerous occasions. I’m pleased he has received a lengthy sentence and that restrictions are in place to prevent further innocent children from becoming victims.

'I must praise the courage of the young victim in this case, whose disclosure to a trusted adult meant that we were able to investigate and bring to justice a dangerous sexual predator.'

Description

A convicted sex offender who repeatedly breached a court order by concealing an iPad containing child abuse images has been jailed.

Samuel Teubler, 29, from Tunbridge Wells, was subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) imposed by Maidstone Crown Court after his October 2022 conviction for making indecent photographs of children and possessing extreme pornography. He received an eight-month suspended prison sentence at the time.

The court heard this month that Teubler breached the SHPO twice in 2023 and 2024—avoiding jail both times—before being caught with the device in June this year. Police, suspicious of him hiding his face while driving, detained him initially for a drugs search, then discovered the iPad Air in his rucksack after checks revealed his offender status.

Prosecutor Sophie Childs said it was “clear” Teubler had been using the device, which he neither disclosed to his Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) manager nor produced during inspections on May 7 and May 29. Analysis found 13 low-level abuse images on it, including depictions of a five-year-old girl’s bare genitalia and a naked 10-year-old boy.

Defence counsel Andrew Cohen said Teubler hid his face because he was “fed up being stopped” by police, citing his “quite difficult background” of being “effectively abandoned by his parents when young,” plus homelessness and poor mental health.

Teubler, of Holden Park Road, pleaded guilty to three SHPO breaches, one count of making indecent images, and breaching two suspended sentences for prior offences involving deleted internet history and undisclosed bank cards.

After being spared custody three times since 2022, Teubler was sentenced on September 8 to two-and-a-half years in prison. Judge Oliver Saxby KC said the latest offending was “aggravated substantially” by his previous convictions. Upon release, Teubler faces the same 10-year SHPO but indefinite sex offender notification requirements.

Description

Lengthy prison sentences have been given to three sexual predators who repeatedly raped a 12-year-old girl after she was lured into a car in Dover.

Kevin Horvath and Ivan Turtak approached their victim in a supermarket car park on Sunday 11 August 2024 before driving her to various locations and subjecting her to horrific abuse for several days along with a third offender, Ernest Gunar.

All were convicted of multiple child sex offences including rape following a trial earlier this year and were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 12 September 2025.

Horvath, 26, of King Street, Dover, and Turtak, 38, of George Street, were both jailed for 17 years whilst Gunar, 27, of Sidney Street, Folkestone, was sentenced to 19 years.

All three men, who are Slovakian nationals, will also serve an additional three years on licence under the terms of extended sentences.

Abused

It was revealed during the offenders’ trial that the girl was plied with drugs and alcohol whilst being repeatedly sexually abused, having first been taken to Turtak’s flat in Dover before then being driven to a caravan owned by Gunar in Folkestone.

She was told she would be killed if she raised the alarm or tried to escape but was eventually able to leave the caravan whilst the men were asleep on Tuesday 13 August and later opened up to Kent Police officers about the ordeal she had been put through.

House-to-house enquiries were immediately carried out, which led to the discovery of CCTV footage that showed the victim getting into a silver Skoda Fabia in the supermarket car park. The registration number of the vehicle was visible and traced to Horvath as the registered owner, who was arrested along with Turtak in the early hours of Thursday 15 August.

Gunar was then identified as the third offender and arrested three days later at Glasgow Airport in a failed attempt to escape justice.

All three were forensically linked to the offences whilst there was also an indecent image of the victim on Turtak’s mobile phone, which was taken inside his flat.

Courage

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Smith of Kent Police said:

‘Nobody should have to suffer sexual abuse like the victim in this case did and I would like to commend her for the strength and courage she displayed throughout the investigation and court process.

‘Kevin Horvath, Ivan Turtak and Ernest Gunar are clearly three very dangerous offenders who thought nothing about picking a child up off the street and effectively keeping her prisoner in order to fulfil their own depraved sexual needs. They will now be behind bars where they belong for a significant period of time, which I hope is of some comfort to the victim and her family as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

‘Incidents of this nature are fortunately very rare in Kent and I am extremely proud of every officer and member of staff who worked so hard to identify the offenders and ultimately bring them to justice, so they can cause no further harm to innocent members of the public.’

Description

A convicted sex offender from Chatham who admitted to multiple breaches of a court order and failing to comply with notification requirements has been jailed.

Michael Millson, 39, was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in February 2024 following a conviction for offences that included possession of indecent images of children.

Investigation

The restrictions stipulated that he should not be in possession of an internet-enabled device without written approval from police.

He was further forbidden from installing software on such a device that would allow browsing history to be deleted, or any apps that could anonymise the web user’s identity.

On 26 June 2024, Millson, who had been released from prison on licence, was recalled due to poor behaviour and he was arrested. Whilst in custody, he was found to have a mobile phone - which had not been disclosed to police, and on which banned apps and file-sharing software were installed - in direct breach of the SHPO.

In addition, a review by officers of Millson’s phone’s camera roll confirmed that several indecent images had been downloaded to the device.

Charged

The following day, 18 charges were brought against Millson including eight breaches of a SHPO, six counts of making indecent images, three breaches of sex offender notification requirements and possession of an indecent image.

Jailed

Millson, formerly of Palmerston Road, pleaded guilty and, on Thursday 4 September 2025 at Maidstone Crown Court, was sentenced to three years in prison.

Detective Constable Zoe Wornham said:

‘We apply for court orders such as these so that convicted sex offenders can be closely monitored once they have served time in prison. This helps us to safeguard potential future victims and prevent further crimes from being committed. Millson clearly breached the conditions imposed by the court and was rightly put back in prison as a result.

‘Offenders who are released and are subject to restrictions should remember that they will be made to face the consequences if they fail to adhere to them.’

Description

A registered sex offender from Medway who breached multiple court conditions has been sent to prison.

In 2018, Haydon Sheard was convicted of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

His sentence placed him on the sex offenders register and required him to comply with the restrictions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Phone monitored

One of the conditions required Sheard to notify Kent Police of any internet enabled devices in his possession so that monitoring software could be placed on them.

On 25 April 2025, two officers made an unannounced visit to his home address and located him in a bedroom with a mobile phone. He was acting suspiciously, and when the phone was checked, it was found to have an indecent video of a child.

Sheard was arrested and officers searched his room for any other devices he had not declared.

Restrictions breached

Whilst he denied having any, the investigators found an e-reader and a memory card which were in breach of his SHPO, along with two bank cards that he had not notified the police he possessed.

When his phone was later examined it was found to contain 355 illegal images of children of which five were of the most serious category.

Sheard, of Sundridge Drive, Chatham was charged and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to three counts of possessing indecent images of children, five counts of breaching his SHPO and one count of breaching his sex offender notification requirements.

Jailed

On Friday 29 August, Sheard, 27, was jailed for two years and four months. His SHPO was extended for the next 10 years.

Investigating officer, PC Leona Valsler, said:

‘Some sex offenders when sentenced are given the opportunity to show they regret their behaviour and want to reform. They are then given strict conditions on their conduct which we regularly monitor.

‘Sheard has shown that he cannot be trusted to behave lawfully whilst living in the community and he is now serving a prison sentence. It can only be hoped that he reflects on his actions as, when he is released, the restrictions on his behaviour will be more onerous and our inspections more frequent.’

Description

A Tonbridge cleaner has been jailed after using his phone to spy on a woman showering at a gym.

The device hidden by Lee Drury was seen by the victim after she noticed a dislodged ceiling tile.

Drury had been working at the gym for just a few months, when on 19 June 2023 he secreted his iPhone in area used by customers. When the victim spotted it she took photos and alerted a manager.

Drury was challenged and although his phone matched the description given, when checked no images were found

Further offences

Police attended and he was arrested. A full forensic download of the phone showed he had accessed a camera app at the same time the victim had been in the showers.

Officers also recovered an illegal image of a child, which had been downloaded from the internet and was in the most serious category.

The investigation later led to the seizure of another phone belonging to Drury which contained further indecent images.

He was charged with multiple offences but denied any wrongdoing and was granted bail by magistrates, pending future court proceedings.

Drury went on to commit further offences and was arrested again, in August 2024, after initiating contact with a person who he believed to be a 14-year-old child.

He made several explicit requests to the child and sent pornographic content.

After a trial at Maidstone Crown Court, Drury, 35, was convicted of voyeurism and two counts of making indecent images of a child.

In relation to the online offences, he previously pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause a child to watch others engaging in sexual activity and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Jailed

On 4 September 2025, Drury, of Borough Green Road, Wrotham was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, lasting 15 years.  

Kent Police Investigator Natalie Armstrong, of the Offender Management Unit, said:

‘Drury was a registered sex offender, who was the subject of strict measures and monitoring by our officers and staff. He has clearly been unable to adhere to these measures and restrictions and has gone on to violate what should have been a safe and private space for women.

‘His clear determination to also groom and exploit children through the internet is indicative of someone with absolutely no understanding of the gravity of his actions. He has now faced the consequences and is rightly serving a custodial sentence, ensuring the public is protected from further harm.’

Description

A child rapist from Tonbridge has been jailed for life.

Michael Link was convicted of a catalogue of offences relating to the abuse of three victims over a period spanning more than four decades.

Kent Police was alerted to reports of repeated sexual abuse involving one of his victims in August 2019 and Link was arrested.

A lengthy and extensive investigation led by the West Division Child Protection Team revealed he had also targeted and exploited another young child for more than 10 years, between the 1980s and 1990s.

When a third victim came forward, detectives established Link was still offending in the days leading up to his arrest.

Lies

During police interviews Link denied any wrongdoing and claimed his victims had made ‘false allegations’.

He maintained his innocence during a trial at Maidstone Crown Court but was found guilty by a jury of 19 offences, including multiple rapes, indecent assaults, voyeurism, and sexual activity with a child.

Link, 72, of Audley Avenue, Tonbridge was sentenced on Thursday 28 August 2025.

He was jailed for life and will have to serve at least 15 years before he can be considered for parole.

The judge assessed him as ‘dangerous’ and, if he is ever released, Link will be subject to an indefinite licence and remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Depraved

Detective Constable Tania Muller said:

‘Link repeatedly subjected his young and helpless victims to depraved and sickening abuse. One of the children was as young as five years old.'

He is a predatory and dangerous child sex offender whose crimes will have had a devastating and lasting impact on the lives of all those he targeted.‘

I would like to thank and commend the bravery of the victims who have endured so much, yet have thankfully summoned the tremendous courage to support this investigation.

'The incredible strength they have shown means Link will almost certainly spend the rest of his life in prison.’

Description

A woman who was sexually abused by a rapist whilst his partner filmed her ordeal in Sheerness has seen the pair jailed.

On 18 September 2020, Indre Bruziene and her partner Vasile Radacanu invited the victim to their address, where they consumed some alcoholic drinks.

The victim became intoxicated and Radacanu took the opportunity to rape her whilst she was unable to consent and was at one point unconscious.

Abuse filmed

Whilst this took place Bruziene filmed the abuse through a window and then from inside the house. It was apparent Radacanu was aware his actions were being filmed as he gestured to the camera several times.

The victim awoke on the following morning in her own bed at home with no memory of what had happened to her.

On 15 March 2021, she received a call from Bruziene who accused the woman of breaking up her family. Bruziene also sent footage of the rape incident and demanded £5,000 or it would be sent to the victim’s husband.

Arrested

The distressed victim refused to pay the money and informed her family before contacting the police. Radacanu, who is Romanian, and Bruziene, from Lithuania, were both arrested the following day.

Investigators seized their mobile phones and, following an investigation, Radacanu was charged with two rapes, attempted rape and two sexual assaults. Bruziene was charged with blackmail.

The pair pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and, following a trial, were convicted of the indictments on 28 January 2025.

Jailed

On Thursday 14 August, Radacanu, 33, of Charlotte Street, Sittingbourne was sentenced to 12 years and six months’ imprisonment. Bruziene, 40, of Alma Road, Sheerness was jailed for three years and three months.

Detective Constable Hollie Brown said:

‘The criminal actions of Radacanu and Bruziene were unspeakably vile as they took advantage of a vulnerable victim who was not aware of what was happening to her.

‘As soon as the victim received the video of her abuse from Bruziene she showed great courage in disclosing her ordeal to her family and then contacting the police. Detectives then swiftly secured the offenders phones and they have now, quite rightly, been brought to justice.’

Description

Stepfather Jailed for Secretly Filming Stepdaughter in Shower as Victim Speaks Out to Encourage Others

A 63-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for covertly recording his stepdaughter in the shower, prompting the victim to waive her anonymity and share her story to support others affected by sexual offenses.

Megan Ervin, 32, spoke exclusively about the ordeal after Craig West, whom she had viewed as a father figure, was jailed for voyeurism at Maidstone Crown Court.

The court heard that West hid a spy-pen camera in a toothbrush holder at the family home in Sheerness, actively encouraging Megan to take a shower during her visit on March 13, 2020.

Megan, who had arrived at the home following a relationship breakdown, initially declined but later agreed after waking from a nap. While showering, she noticed a flashing light and discovered the device, which contained a memory card.

Quickly taking photos of the pen as evidence, Megan alerted her family. When confronted, West initially denied knowledge but later admitted to the act, even alluding to plans to sell the footage.

Police investigations revealed an additional recording on West's laptop, showing another woman using the toilet in his caravan, filmed approximately two years earlier.

West, a former lorry driver now working as a vending machine delivery driver and residing in St Georges Avenue, Eastchurch, pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism and two counts of observing a private act for sexual gratification.

During pre-sentencing reports, West claimed the acts were motivated by "hate and spite" rather than sexual intent and denied planning to record the second woman, saying the camera was set up to catch his wife's alleged lover.

He urged family members not to involve the police, insisting he did not deserve prison. His defense argued for a suspended sentence, citing his guilty plea, lack of prior relevant convictions, potential for rehabilitation, and a five-year delay in the case.

However, Recorder Vivian Walters rejected this, imposing a six-month immediate custodial sentence on August 7, stating that only imprisonment was appropriate given the impact on the victims and lack of concrete evidence of rehabilitation.

Both victims attended the hearing and were emotional as the sentence was delivered. Megan's mother supported West, leading to a breakdown in her relationship with her daughter.

Prosecutor Stacey-Lee Holland detailed how West entered the bathroom under the pretense of brushing his teeth to hide the device before encouraging Megan to shower.

After the shower, West removed the pen, but Megan had already documented it. When challenged, he pretended to destroy the device but later retrieved it.

In victim impact statements, Megan described feeling "dirty" and violated, exacerbating her existing body confidence issues. She referred to West as a "sexual predator" and noted the "devastating impact" on her life, including a mental breakdown that led to her being sectioned.

The trauma caused suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and forced her to relocate her young family from Sheppey to avoid encounters with West.

The second victim expressed feeling "deceitful" treatment by West, leading to distress, antidepressant use, paranoia about hidden cameras, insomnia, and the installation of security cameras in her home.

The judge highlighted the planning involved, abuse of trust, and ongoing devastation to the victims' lives, noting West's letter to the court made no mention of remorse toward them.

West received an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with the victims and must register as a sex offender for seven years.

In a joint statement following the case, Megan and the second victim encouraged other survivors to come forward, emphasizing that help is available regardless of relationships involved.

They stated: We want them to know it doesnt matter who the perpetrators are to you or who stands by them. There is help and there are people who will listen and believe the truth. You absolutely can get some kind of justice even if thats just in a form of belief, sometimes being believed is what means the most.

They added: We hope that by speaking out, it shows these predators that it is not OK, it wont be tolerated and you will be caught. I have lost a relationship with my mother over this, and thats been hard but with that loss we have gained so much support and love within others. I no longer have to make my mother happy or keep a relationship with her. Despite the great impact this has had on our mental health, we are now finally free from this man and can rebuild our lives.

Description

A sex offender from Sittingbourne who groomed young teenage girls and lavished them with gifts has been jailed.

Bradley Kite, 42, of Lydbrook Close, pleaded guilty to multiple offences at Maidstone Crown Court.

Investigation

While the sexual abuse was taking place, Kite manipulated a girl to believe he was her boyfriend, sending her sexualised messages as well as giving her money and jewellery.

He also took girls shopping and bought them expensive presents before sexually assaulting them.

Kent Police was alerted to Kite’s offending in June 2024 after crimes were disclosed to a victim’s family member. An investigation, which involved specialist detectives from the force, was launched. Further victims were also identified.

Kite was arrested on 27 June 2024 and he was later charged.

Jailed

He admitted thirteen offences including multiple counts of sexual activity with a child and sexual assaults of a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

A jury found Kite guilty of a further sexual assault of a child that he denied.

On Wednesday 6 August 2025, Kite was sentenced to 12 years and nine months’ imprisonment. He will serve at least two thirds of his sentence behind bars and will spend a further five years on licence after his release.

Kite was also made the subject of a 25 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Constable Daniel Alai said:

'Kite is a dangerous offender who preyed on the vulnerability of young teenage girls, manipulating and abusing them for his own gratification. I’m pleased that he has received a lengthy sentence and that the SHPO he has been issued will offer further protection to safeguard potential future victims.'The courage of the girls in this case should be commended and I would like to thank them for speaking out to report these crimes, which have had a lasting impact on them and their families. We will always listen sensitively to victims and will strive to bring sexual predators such as Kite before the courts to face justice.'

Description

A sexual predator who left a disabled victim terrified after a late-night assault has avoided jail despite a history of similar attacks.  

Sacha Mazouz, 47, approached the man outside Ramsgate railway station on June 8 after the victim missed his train.  

Drunk, Mazouz made explicit comments and touched the victim’s upper leg near his groin, causing him to flee to a phone box and call 999.  

Mazouz banged on the phone box, trying to reach him, until police arrived and arrested him.  

Magistrates in Margate heard Mazouz, from Folkestone, had prior sexual offense convictions, including a 2023 assault in a Canterbury public toilet that left a man fearing rape.  

Despite being called a “danger to the public,” Mazouz received a 24-week suspended sentence for two years instead of immediate custody.  

The victim said the assault left him trembling, depressed, anxious, and avoiding trains, now relying on taxis. He felt “violated” and struggled with intimacy.  

Prosecutor Lucie Fish said Mazouz made inappropriate sexual comments and touched the victim’s leg despite being told he wasn’t interested.  

Mazouz pleaded guilty to sexual assault and two counts of failing to comply with the sex offenders register.  

The court heard he had 17 prior convictions, including serious sexual offenses, robbery with an imitation firearm, and assaulting a teenage boy in 2013 after giving him alcohol and drugs.  

He also breached court orders in 2013 and 2019 and failed to declare a bank card and savings account, violating notification rules.  

Defence lawyer Stephen Evans said Mazouz admitted the offenses early and needed alcohol rehabilitation, claiming no substantial intervention had been provided since 2003.  

Magistrates noted the seriousness of his predatory behavior but gave him a suspended sentence, 20 rehabilitation sessions, a 26-session “Better Choices” program, six months of alcohol treatment, and a 7pm-6am curfew for six months.  

He also received a stricter 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to pay £272 in costs and a victim surcharge.