ANDREW LAIN SHEERNESS CHILD ABUSER SENTENCED IN MAIDSTONE COURT

In a case that has shocked the community of Sheerness and the surrounding areas, Andrew Lain, a former school governor and resident of Broad Street, Sheerness, was sentenced to four years in prison for serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The conviction was handed down after a lengthy trial at Maidstone Crown Court, where the jury found him guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a minor.

Andrew Lain, aged 45, was described during the proceedings as having an unconventional lifestyle, including frequent visits to nudist clubs and naturist holidays across Europe. His lifestyle choices and lack of traditional boundaries at his home in Sheerness were scrutinized during the trial, which revealed disturbing details about his conduct.

Despite his claims of innocence, Lain was convicted on October 27 by majority verdicts of 11-1 and 10-2. He was acquitted of seven other similar charges, which included allegations of causing a child to watch a sexual act and sexual assault involving three other girls. The court also cleared him of accusations that he filmed two girls engaging in sexual activity via webcam and showed one girl pornographic images on his laptop.

The case against Lain initially surfaced when the police investigated allegations of abuse involving a 12-year-old girl. The investigation was conducted the year after the incident, but authorities decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges at that time. It was only after police discovered pornographic images on a laptop belonging to Lain four years later that the case was reopened, leading to his eventual conviction.

Prosecutor Sarah Campbell outlined to the jury that Lain fostered a permissive environment, encouraging girls to consume alcohol and drugs before engaging in sexual activities with each other. The court heard that he exploited a seemingly permissive atmosphere to facilitate his misconduct. Lain was also accused of encouraging inappropriate behavior among minors, although he denied all allegations.

Following the allegations, Lain was asked to step down from his role as a governor at Cheyne Middle School. During the trial, he admitted to visiting nudist clubs and taking naturist holidays, but he insisted that his actions were innocent. In a statement to the jury, he said, “I have been known to slap a bum in jest,” attempting to downplay the severity of his behavior.

Judge Philip Statman addressed Lain during sentencing, emphasizing that although he contested the case, the victim had to relive her trauma in court. The judge acknowledged her resilience, stating, “She has a robust approach to getting on with her life, but it has awakened all that happened all those years ago.”

It was also noted that Lain is in poor health and suffers from depression. As part of his sentence, he will be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and is subject to a sexual offences prevention order. Furthermore, he is permanently barred from working with children, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the community’s need for protection.