Gravesend Rapist Jailed for 18 years

A judge has jailed a man for 18 years after he abused two children. Joginder Mahay, 51, of St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 18 May 2018. He was sentenced after being found guilty by a jury of six charges of rape, eight charges of indecent assault, one charge of digital penetration and two charges of sexual activity with a child. During the trial the jury heard how Mahay started to abuse two young girls in Gravesend between 2000 and 2007 and that it started when they were aged seven and nine years old. Following the trial which ended on Tuesday 6 March 2018 it took the jury just five hours to find Mahay guilty of the charges. Mahay was ordered to serve a custodial sentence of 18 years and will serve an additional five years under the terms of an extended sentence. He was put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Fleur Hardie said: ‘Mahay subjected these girls to years of abuse and thought he could get away with these offences and even when the abuse was reported he continued to deny the offences and put the girls and their families through the difficulty of a trial. ‘I’d like to commend their bravery in speaking up and helping to ensure this man pays for the crimes he committed. ‘I’d encourage anyone who has been abused, or is being abused, to report it to us. We will investigate thoroughly and will always ensure the victim is looked after appropriately.’