Two men jailed following rape in Cranbrook
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Two men have been imprisoned after a teenager was sexually assaulted at a play park in Cranbrook.
Frank Smith and Leonard Wilson subjected the girl to an aggressive sexual attack on the evening of 28 August 2018. The victim met the offenders at a remote rural location near Jockey Lane where she was dragged from a vehicle with such force, she bumped her head before she was raped by both men.
Smith and Wilson, who were aged 18 and 17, respectively, at the time of the assault, subsequently intimidated the girl and made threats to harm her family to prevent her from reporting the incident to the police.
Charged
Smith, of Pluckley Road, Bethersden, was charged with sexual assault and two counts of rape, and Wilson, of Plurenden Road, High Halstow, was charged with rape, two counts of possessing indecent images of a child, and three counts of possessing an extreme pornographic image.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges at Maidstone Crown Court but were each convicted of one count of rape after a trial.
Sentenced
On 9 April 2024, Smith, aged 24, was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment, and Wilson, aged 23, was sentenced to three years and six months.
Detective Kim Bashford, of Kent Police’s West Division CID said:
‘Smith and Wilson not only subjected their victim to a harrowing sexual assault but used fear to prevent her from reporting the incident to the police. As a result, the girl was forced to withstand a lengthy investigation and trial, during which she had to repeatedly relive the traumatic events of that night. ‘A custodial sentence for such an abhorrent crime is just, regardless of Smith and Wilson’s ages at the time. We would like to thank the victim for her admirable courage in working with us to secure a jail term for the offenders. ‘Kent Police takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and is committed to investigating thoroughly, while operating with discretion and sensitivity. It is never too late to report a sexual offence. You will be believed.’