DAVID JAGGERS OF TILBURY: HORRIFIC CRIMES IN ESSEX AND CAMBRIDGESHIRE REVEALED

In a deeply disturbing series of events that have shocked the community, David Jaggers, a man from Tilbury, Essex, has been linked to a horrifying history of violent and predatory crimes spanning over a decade. His criminal activities include the brutal rape of his own sister, the kidnapping and assault of a young woman, and a previous conviction for manslaughter, all of which paint a picture of a profoundly disturbed individual.

Vicky, a woman from Tilbury, endured unimaginable trauma beginning at the age of 12. Her ordeal started when her brother, David Jaggers, entered her bedroom above their family’s pub, owned by their mother Avril, now 63, and their father Len, who passed away in 1994. Without warning, David committed a heinous act of sexual assault, raping her while she was asleep. Vicky recalls her confusion and terror vividly, describing the moment as feeling unreal and painfully wrong. She was a virgin at the time, with little understanding of sex, yet she instinctively knew that what was happening was terribly wrong.

She recounts: “I had no idea what he was doing — it seemed so unreal. Obviously I was a virgin and knew hardly anything about sex — but I knew what David was doing was very wrong. I can remember being in agony, but also too terrified to scream out. It seemed to go on forever, and when the attack was finally over, David simply got out of bed and left, shutting my bedroom door as if nothing had happened.”

Following this initial assault, David continued to prey on Vicky, raping her two more times while she slept, each time sneaking into her room. Her feelings of shame and dirtiness overwhelmed her, leading her to spend hours in the bath trying to scrub away the memories of those terrible attacks. Despite her suffering, she kept her secret hidden from her parents, fearing that revealing the truth would destroy her family. Her parents, Avril and Len, remained unaware of the horrors their daughter endured.

Unbeknownst to Vicky, she was pregnant with David’s child. She discovered her pregnancy at six months when she experienced stomach pains, and a doctor confirmed her condition. She was only 12 years old at the time. She kept her pregnancy secret, claiming to her parents that the father was a boy she met at a caravan park the previous summer. Her pregnancy culminated in the birth of Kirsty in July 1987. Despite the trauma, Vicky chose not to give her daughter up for adoption, and with her parents’ support, she raised Kirsty, loving her deeply despite the dark secret of her biological father.

In the years that followed, David moved back into the vicinity, and Vicky’s discomfort around him grew. She describes feeling physically ill at the sight of her brother, who appeared sleazy and untrustworthy. In 1989, David was involved in a violent incident where he strangled his girlfriend, Helen Mitchell, a 23-year-old woman, during an argument. He left her body on the sofa and sat with her throughout the night before leaving without reporting the crime. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison.

Vicky’s life was marred by further hardships, including destructive relationships and the birth of four more children: Alicia, Sam, Jamie, and Kirk. Despite these struggles, her life took a turn for the better when she met Kelly, a man she describes as her “knight in shining armor,” in 2002. They married in August of that year, and Kelly became a stabilizing presence in her life. However, she kept her past hidden from him until December 2004, when a nationwide manhunt for David Jaggers was launched after he kidnapped and raped another woman, holding her captive in his van for three days and repeatedly assaulting her.

Vicky recalls that this incident was the breaking point. She realized she could no longer remain silent and decided to come forward, first confiding in Kelly, her mother Avril, and her daughter Kirsty. Her emotional confession was filled with tears and pain as she revealed the truth, saying only “rape, David” and “Kirsty’s dad.” The revelation devastated her family. Her mother, Avril, was heartbroken and apologized for not protecting her, while Kirsty, now 21, was left speechless upon learning that her uncle was also her biological father.

Following her disclosures, Vicky approached the police. DNA testing confirmed that David Jaggers was indeed Kirsty’s father. In 2005, David appeared in Basildon Crown Court, Essex, where he admitted to two counts of raping Vicky. He received a surprisingly lenient sentence of just one year for each count. Additionally, he admitted to raping his girlfriend, making threats to kill, false imprisonment, and kidnapping. For these crimes, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of six years. Despite the relatively short minimum term, Vicky remains resolute in her belief that her family’s love and support will protect her from any future harm.

David Jaggers’s criminal history is extensive. Before his recent convictions, he was jailed for six years after strangling his girlfriend, Helen Mitchell, in South Ockenden, Essex, in a case where he was convicted of manslaughter. His childhood was described as “quite appalling,” and he is considered a very disturbed individual. His latest arrest came after he kidnapped and raped a young woman in Southend, Essex, in a case that involved holding her captive in a van and driving her to Ely in Cambridgeshire before releasing her near her home. The court heard that Jaggers had expressed suicidal thoughts, saying he hoped police would shoot him, reflecting his troubled mental state.

Jaggers’s violent and criminal behavior has left a trail of devastation across Essex and Cambridgeshire. His actions have not only caused physical and emotional trauma to his victims but have also deeply affected his own family, who continue to grapple with the repercussions of his crimes. His case remains a stark reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the devastating impact of unchecked violence and abuse.