Raping and sexually assaulting young girl.

Plasterer Sentenced for Sexual Offences Against Girl in Hastings

Kenneth Mann, 43, a plasterer, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday for sexual offenses against a girl in Hastings. He had been convicted at Hove Crown Court on March 23 of rape, sexual assault, and inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency. He was acquitted of further alleged offenses against the girl.

The offenses occurred between the early and mid-2000s, when the girl was aged between nine and 13. Mann, who then lived in Hastings, came to know the girl locally and took advantage of her innocence and vulnerability for his own sexual gratification.

Mann was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He will also be a registered sex offender for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to last indefinitely, prohibiting him from any contact with the victim.

Detective Sergeant Steve Shimmons of the Hastings-based Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "The girl kept this distressing experience to herself until four years ago when she first contacted us. Even at that stage, she was reluctant to support a prosecution, but then came back to us again, and over time we gained her confidence to enable the investigation to progress."

Shimmons continued, "She bravely gave evidence in court, and this was crucial in helping to secure the guilty verdicts. If you or anyone you know is being, or has been, subjected to this sort of predatory behavior, do not suffer in silence. Please contact us."