DARREN ELPHICK JAILED IN MAIDSTONE FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING UNDERAGE GIRL
Darren Elphick, 50, a senior church bell ringer from Aylesford near Maidstone, has been sentenced to six years in prison after grooming and engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl.The court was told that Elphick manipulated the girl by purchasing her expensive gifts and ignoring warnings about his unsettling behavior.
He sexually abused her at his home, in his car, and in secluded wooded areas, instructing her to keep their encounters secret so as not to become public.
When the abuse was eventually reported, police arrested Elphick in December 2018.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to multiple charges: four counts of sexual activity with a child, three of taking indecent photographs of a child, one of possessing an indecent image, and one involving possession of extreme pornographic material.
At the time of his arrest, Elphick served as the secretary and 'tower captain' at St Peter and St Paul Church in Aylesford, but he was immediately suspended by the Rochester Diocese.
Notably, none of the offences occurred on church premises.
During sentencing, Judge Robert Lazarus emphasized the long-lasting trauma caused by Elphick's actions.
He stated, 'It ought not be necessary to say this but any adult who encounters a child has a duty to protect them from harm and you didn't.
In fact, you went out of your way to harm her.' The judge also acknowledged the deep psychological impact on the victim, noting she had at times believed the abuse was her fault.
Prosecutor Kathryn Hirst explained that Elphick initially befriended the girl and began buying her presents, but he dismissed concerns and eventually engaged in kissing, touching, and sexual intercourse with her while she was underage.
The court was told there was clear evidence of grooming, with warnings issued to Elphick about the girl’s age.
The victim expressed in her impact statement that she now understands the abuse as harmful, feeling that her childhood was taken away and feeling sad for her younger self.
Police found indecent images of the girl without her knowledge, as well as images of unidentified children aged 12 to 14, and four extreme pornographic videos involving bestiality sent via WhatsApp.
Elphick, who has no prior convictions, was defended by Irshad Sheikh, who stated that Elphick was 'flattered' by the girl’s attention but should have stopped immediately.
The defense acknowledged that he accepted his actions were wrong and that he is genuinely remorseful.
Upon his release, Elphick will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, will be required to sign the sex offender register indefinitely, and will be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Detective Constable Hannah Crittenden from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team highlighted the severity of Elphick’s exploitation, stating, 'Elphick gained the trust of a child and exploited this trust in the worst possible way, by subjecting her to repeated abuse.' She urged any victims of sexual offences to come forward, emphasizing that it is never too late to report such crimes and assuring that their information will be treated with confidentiality and sensitivity.
