CHARLES HUGGETT SENTENCED IN BASINGSTOKE AND DARTFORD FOR CHILD ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Basingstoke and Dartford, Charles Huggett, aged 50, has been held accountable for a disturbing history of child abuse that came to light after a television programme about the notorious paedophile Jimmy Savile aired. The revelations prompted a lengthy legal process culminating in a court ruling that mandates Huggett to pay a substantial compensation to his victim.

Huggett’s abuse of the young girl, which occurred over three decades ago, involved molestation when she was approximately seven or eight years old. At the time, Huggett was around 15 or 16 years old and was residing in Dartford. The victim, whose identity remains protected, was deeply affected by the incident, which she only confronted publicly after watching the TV programme that featured Savile, a figure infamous for his predatory behaviour.

The court heard that the victim was watching the programme with her mother, who expressed her surprise that many of Savile’s victims had not come forward earlier. Her mother then asked her, “If anything like that happened to you, would you come forward?” The victim responded emotionally, saying, “You put me in a difficult position, Mum, because it did happen to me.” This moment of revelation led to the police being informed about the abuse.

Following the report, Huggett was arrested in February of the previous year. He admitted to inappropriately touching the young girl, leading to his guilty plea on two counts of indecent assault. Despite this, Huggett denied additional charges of indecency with a child and indecent assault, and after a trial last month, he was acquitted of those allegations.

During the sentencing hearing at Maidstone Crown Court, Recorder David Jeremy QC considered Huggett’s financial situation, noting that he had savings amounting to £85,000. The court ordered Huggett to pay his victim £15,000 in compensation, reflecting the severity of the crime and the impact on the victim. In addition to the financial penalty, Huggett received a 12-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years. The court also mandated that he complete 150 hours of unpaid community service, sign the sex offenders’ register, and adhere to a five-year sexual offences prevention order.

Huggett, who now resides in Basingstoke, Hampshire, faces ongoing restrictions and monitoring as part of the court’s efforts to prevent further offending. The case highlights the importance of vigilance and the ongoing fight against child abuse, with the legal system taking firm action to hold offenders accountable and support victims in their journey towards justice.