Man jailed for Kent and Sussex sex attacks

A man has been jailed for 24 years for a series of sexual assaults on four small girls in Sussex and Kent between seven and 10 years ago.

Trevor Carter, 55, a long distance lorry driver, of Church Lane, Shadoxhurst, near Ashford in Kent, was sentenced today, at Hove Crown Court, having been convicted, after an eight-day trial, of 21 offences.

He was also served with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for life prohibiting him from any future contact with children under-16,and from preventing police access to any computer to which he has access.

He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life on his release.

Carter committed sexual offences against three girls in Kent, between 2002 and 2003.

He was found guilty of two counts of rape and four indecent assaults on a girl between 10 and 12, seven indecent assaults and one count of indecency withanother girl between nine and 11 and one count of indecent assault on a third girl who was just nine years old.

All the victims were from Ashford.

He was also found guilty of committing three indecent assaults, two counts of causing and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence, against a girl aged between nine and 10 in Crawley between 2005 and 2006.

Those offences were reported to police in 2010 and Carter was circulated as wanted.

Carter’s crimes came to light when one of the victims, now an adult, reported the offences against her to Kent police last year.

The jury heard that Carter had a previous conviction in 1983 in the name of Trevor Cripps for similar indecent assaults on a 7-year old girl in Surrey.

DetectiveConstable Dani Flude of Sussex Police said; “This was a good example of co-operation between police forces.

"As soon as the Kent allegations came tolight we were informed and we worked together, and with the Crown Prosecution Service, to ensure that the full extent of Carter’s appalling offending was put before the court.

"It is clear that over many years he had systematically groomed young girls by ingratiating himself with their families and working himself into a position of trust which enabled him to achieve the privacy he craved in which to assault these helpless young girls.

“Detective Constable Maria Cutter of Kent Police and I worked closely on this enquiry and we are both glad to see that justice has been done for these young victims, all of whom had to suffer the stress of giving evidence in court. We pay tribute to their courage in doing so.

“This sentencing sends out a message that allegations like this will always be treated seriously by police, however long ago the period to which they relate. We will give every possible support to victims who come forward, and that includes support to see them through the criminal justice process.”

DC Maria Cutter of Kent Police added; “It was thanks to the bravery of thefirst Kent victim in coming forward that Carter's full offending history became apparent.

"Learning that his offending had been reported to police, our other victims realised that they had not been alone in being abused by this man,which gave them the courage to come forward and report further offences.

"I hope this case shows that no matter how long ago crimes were committed, we will vigorously investigate reports of historic sexual abuse and work with other police forces to bring sexual offenders like Carter tojustice."