CHARLES SPANN FROM LEATHERHEAD SENTENCED FOR ABUSE IN HORRIFIC CASE

On November 2, 1992, a deeply disturbing case unfolded in the courts involving Charles Spann, a 52-year-old lorry driver from Leatherhead, who was convicted of heinous acts against a young girl. Spann was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl, an act that resulted in her becoming pregnant. Although the jury acquitted him of two rape charges, they accepted his admission of having sexual relations with the girl on two separate occasions.

As Spann was led away to the cells, a relative of the young victim shouted from the public gallery, expressing her anger and anguish by shouting, 'I hope you die there.' The courtroom was filled with emotion as the gravity of the case was laid bare. The presiding judge, The Common Serjeant of London, Judge Robert Lymbery, delivered a stern and condemning sentence, emphasizing the severity of the breach of trust involved in this case. He stated, 'This is as bad a case of breach of trust as one can imagine. As a friend of the family, you should have protected the girl and guided her, even against herself.'

The judge further highlighted the devastating impact of Spann’s actions, noting that he had sex with the girl without any protective devices. The consequences of his misconduct extended beyond the act itself, as the girl became pregnant and endured ongoing trauma. Her life was profoundly affected, with her adult years marred by the events. The court heard that during the four months she kept her pregnancy a secret from her family, she took five showers daily, attempting to cope with her shame and distress. Her family, unaware of her suffering, complained about rising gas bills and difficulties accessing the bathroom, tragically oblivious to her emotional turmoil.

The case came to a head during her fifteenth birthday party, when she finally accused Spann of having raped her on two separate occasions. This revelation led her to undergo an abortion, a traumatic experience that added to her suffering. Spann, who had not enjoyed an active sex life with his wife due to her arthritis, insisted that all sexual encounters were consensual. He claimed that on the first occasion, he had simply gotten into bed with the girl to keep her warm, and she had started stroking his leg. Spann stated, 'There was no doubt in my mind she knew what she was doing. She actually smiled as she was doing it,' and added, 'It went through my mind that it was not the first time for her. She was enjoying it.'

He expressed remorse, saying he now regretted his actions, but admitted that at the time, he was not thinking clearly. Regarding the second incident, Spann described how he had stroked the girl’s hair as she lay on the sofa, claiming she was pretending to sleep and was smiling. He also admitted to touching her breasts and, together with her, removing her pyjama bottoms, asserting, 'She didn’t say no. If she had, I would have stopped.' Spann’s account was accepted by the jury after more than three hours of deliberation, leading to his acquittal on charges of rape in December of the previous year and January of this year.

Although Spann had prior convictions for assault over a decade ago, he had no previous convictions related to sexual offenses. During the sentencing, his lawyer, Mr. Nicholas Hamblin, expressed regret and distaste for what had transpired, emphasizing Spann’s military service in Cyprus and his 34 years as an HGV driver. Mr. Hamblin stated, 'He is clearly a man who is not a threat to women in general,' and highlighted that Spann was not considered a danger to the wider community. Spann himself hung his head in shame as the judge delivered the sentence, and he was led away to serve his time, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the profound impact on his young victim.