Mark Stanford, a 55-year-old man from St Peter’s Street, Maidstone, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after a jury convicted him of multiple child sex offences. The case, heard at Maidstone Crown Court, revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning three years from 1999 to 2002.
Stanford was found guilty of two counts of rape, six counts of indecent assault, and one count of gross indecency with a child. The victim came forward in May 2016, prompting an investigation by Kent Police. Following his arrest, Stanford denied all allegations, but the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on all charges.
On 13 June 2019, the court sentenced Stanford to 22 years imprisonment, along with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to protect the public.
Detective Sergeant Lisa Featherstone of West Kent’s Vulnerable Investigation Team praised the victim’s courage, stating, “Stanford subjected a young child to the most appalling abuse and used their fear and vulnerability to ensure the child complied with his demands. I want to thank the victim, who has been incredibly brave to come forward and give evidence. The damage caused is incalculable and has had a devastating impact. I hope now the victim can begin to move on, knowing Stanford is behind bars for a lengthy time.”
She added, “Successful convictions like this highlight the importance of reporting sexual offences. It’s never too late to come forward and our team will always treat any information with utmost sensitivity and confidence.”
This conviction sends a clear message to offenders that justice will be pursued regardless of the time elapsed.
Originally published by UKNIP.
