Paedophile who raped young schoolgirl is given 15 years' jail

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Man-raped-girl-given-15-years-jail/article-3160031-detail/article.html

Paedophile who raped young schoolgirl is given 15 years' jail

John Mark Ashbourne By suzy gibson court staff

A paedophile who raped a young schoolgirl and sexually abused three others has been jailed for 15 years.

John Mark Ashbourne was convicted of a series of sex offences at a recent trial.

The 66-year-old denied the offences and maintains he has done nothing wrong, Leicester Crown Court was told.
Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "You're a selfish, domineering bully. You've grossly manipulated and abused these girls.

"I'm mindful you continue to deny your responsibility."

Ashbourne was convicted by a jury of twice raping a girl, three counts of indecently assaulting her and one of indecency with a child, starting when she was five and continuing until she was 10.

He was also found guilty of two indecent assaults on a child aged between 10 and 14, and of indecently assaulting a girl aged 13 to 15.

Ashbourne, of Browning Drive, Measham, was further convicted of engaging in sexual activity in front of a fourth victim, when she was aged between 10 and 13. All the incidents happened between 1997 and 2007.

He was also convicted of possessing 119 indecent photos of naked girls on a computer.

Prosecutor David Herbert told the court during the trial: "He was someone who just couldn't help himself from behaving in that way.
"He would be sexually explicit to the victims.
"He'd sexually assault them in a variety of different ways, some more seriously than others, as the opportunity presented itself.
"He sexually assaulted all four children."
The offences mainly took place at his home.

The girl who was raped told the court that Ashbourne would frighten her by telling her about ghosts.
She said she was too scared to do anything to stop him and went along with it out of fear and confusion.
Mr Herbert said: "He gave her some alcohol sufficient to make her dizzy and ill.
"He also ensured her silence, saying he could be sent to prison or beaten up."

Matters came to light in 2007 when a victim's diary was found to reveal details of the abuse.

Luke Blackburn, in mitigation at yesterday's sentencing hearing, said the defendant had no previous convictions and asked the judge to take into consideration his age when deciding on the length of sentence.
Ashbourne was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order.
He will have to enlist on a sex offender's register for life and is barred from ever working with children.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Rebekah Cortez said: "Throughout the trial and sentencing, the victims have both shown great courage and strength at what was a difficult time for them.
"I am pleased with the sentence Ashbourne has received today and hope that it offers some sort of closure for the victims after a long and traumatic time."

Not long enough in my opinion - should lock him up and throw the keys away. He is obviously going to be a risk when he gets out.

The frequency and length of assault is patently obvious he will be a risk to other young children in the future.

Angelique wrote:Not long enough in my opinion - should lock him up and throw the keys away. He is obviously going to be a risk when he gets out.

The frequency and length of assault is patently obvious he will be a risk to other young children in the future.

I despair with the law that allows obviously dangerous and evil criminals who are not just likely to re offend but who are certain to re offend to serve anything other than a real life sentence....Unless of course the law is changed to allow capital sentences to be handed out for Rape, Murder and crimes against the state.

I agree, not long enough. Those children will be affected for a very long time, maybe even for ever. Lets hope they get sufficient help to deal with whats happened to them. I agree life should mean life.jimo

tanszi wrote:I agree, not long enough. Those children will be affected for a very long time, maybe even for ever. Lets hope they get sufficient help to deal with whats happened to them. I agree life should mean life.jimo

The victims are I believe given much support tanzi, but I'm sure it's an experience that can never truly be forgotten. The offender's sentence should likewise always be a truly unforgettable experience also, they certainly shouldn't be segregated, they should go in with the general prison population where they might appreciate some experiential learning amongst real criminals.

Paedophiles can never be rehabilitated. Death sentence should apply.

margaret wrote:Paedophiles can never be rehabilitated. Death sentence should apply.

Oh no, margaret...no, no, no thrice times no....We mustn't infringe their human rights...... Our lawmakers, judges, lords and politicians have long since decided that those who commit sexual offences have equal rights to those of the victims.

Strangely enough many of the deviants who commit these crimes seem to be of the social class which our honourable leaders are drawn from.