EMILY SWEETLAND FROM RAMSGATE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN CANTERBURY AND THANET
| Red Rose Database
Ramsgate Child Sexual Abuser
In June 2019, Emily Sweetland, a 21-year-old woman from Ramsgate, was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of a series of disturbing sexual assault crimes committed over a span of just four days across the towns of Canterbury and Thanet. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of predatory behavior targeting young girls and women in public spaces, including notable locations such as Canterbury West railway station and the Starbucks coffee shop in Canterbury city centre.
Sweetland, who previously worked at Greggs and preferred to be called Elliot, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court to face the consequences of her actions. She was convicted on 12 counts of sexual assault, including one involving a girl under the age of 13. The court sentenced her to a term of three years' imprisonment, with the stipulation that she remains on the sex offenders register indefinitely. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) was imposed to restrict her future conduct and protect the community.
The defendant had already admitted to carrying out a spree of sexual assaults, which involved publicly assaulting six young girls and three women. The assaults began on April 3 in Thanet, where she sexually touched two teenage girls without their consent. Over the following days, her attacks extended to Canterbury and Ramsgate, where she targeted schoolgirls and women in various public settings.
During the court hearing, prosecutor Francesca Levett read victim impact statements that painted a distressing picture of the trauma inflicted. One victim, who was with a friend in Canterbury on April 5, recounted how Sweetland passed them and then began staring at her. The victim described feeling uncomfortable and hurriedly walking away, only to be followed by Sweetland. The offender then approached her from behind, slapped her bottom, and repeatedly asked for her phone number. Despite being told to leave her alone, Sweetland persisted, following her everywhere and touching her face and bottom. The victim expressed ongoing fear, stating she is undergoing counseling and now takes a different route to school, feeling scared and intimidated by the experience.
Adding to the disturbing nature of the case, Sweetland displayed a lack of remorse during the court proceedings. She smirked and laughed as she heard about the ongoing effects on her victims, including one who now wets the bed and others who are receiving therapy. At one point, she even shouted at the mother of a victim, threatening, “You wait until I’m out! Just wait until I’m out!” Her behavior prompted Judge Mark Weekes to threaten her with contempt of court and to order her into custody during the hearing.
Judge Weekes also apologized to the victims and their families for the delay in sentencing, which was caused by police failure to obtain impact statements in time. Addressing the court, he expressed regret for the emotional distress caused by the procedural delay, stating, “I think the police officer in the case owes you an apology. I would like to offer you a huge apology from the court for wasting your time and your emotions.”
Sweetland’s crimes included approaching a 13-year-old girl in Starbucks on Rose Lane, where she put her hand up her skirt, causing the girl to scream and run away. The victim described how Sweetland sat near their table, pulled up a chair, and then followed her outside, following her to the bus station. Her mother described the lasting impact, noting her daughter’s difficulty sleeping, fear of strangers, and reluctance to return to school, which has devastated their family.
The attacks in Thanet and Canterbury occurred between April 3 and April 6, with Sweetland being arrested on the evening of April 6 following her assaults on three more victims in Ramsgate, including two women and a 13-year-old girl. She was detained and appeared via video link from HMP Bronzefield, where she admitted to 11 sexual assaults but denied a charge of witness intimidation. Prosecutor Francesca Levett requested that the remaining charge be formally filed.
Sentencing was scheduled for June 14, with Judge Weekes emphasizing the seriousness of her offenses and warning her that a prison sentence was highly likely. Sweetland remains in custody at the same prison until her sentencing, which will determine the final outcome of her case and the extent of her punishment for these grave crimes.
Sweetland, who previously worked at Greggs and preferred to be called Elliot, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court to face the consequences of her actions. She was convicted on 12 counts of sexual assault, including one involving a girl under the age of 13. The court sentenced her to a term of three years' imprisonment, with the stipulation that she remains on the sex offenders register indefinitely. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) was imposed to restrict her future conduct and protect the community.
The defendant had already admitted to carrying out a spree of sexual assaults, which involved publicly assaulting six young girls and three women. The assaults began on April 3 in Thanet, where she sexually touched two teenage girls without their consent. Over the following days, her attacks extended to Canterbury and Ramsgate, where she targeted schoolgirls and women in various public settings.
During the court hearing, prosecutor Francesca Levett read victim impact statements that painted a distressing picture of the trauma inflicted. One victim, who was with a friend in Canterbury on April 5, recounted how Sweetland passed them and then began staring at her. The victim described feeling uncomfortable and hurriedly walking away, only to be followed by Sweetland. The offender then approached her from behind, slapped her bottom, and repeatedly asked for her phone number. Despite being told to leave her alone, Sweetland persisted, following her everywhere and touching her face and bottom. The victim expressed ongoing fear, stating she is undergoing counseling and now takes a different route to school, feeling scared and intimidated by the experience.
Adding to the disturbing nature of the case, Sweetland displayed a lack of remorse during the court proceedings. She smirked and laughed as she heard about the ongoing effects on her victims, including one who now wets the bed and others who are receiving therapy. At one point, she even shouted at the mother of a victim, threatening, “You wait until I’m out! Just wait until I’m out!” Her behavior prompted Judge Mark Weekes to threaten her with contempt of court and to order her into custody during the hearing.
Judge Weekes also apologized to the victims and their families for the delay in sentencing, which was caused by police failure to obtain impact statements in time. Addressing the court, he expressed regret for the emotional distress caused by the procedural delay, stating, “I think the police officer in the case owes you an apology. I would like to offer you a huge apology from the court for wasting your time and your emotions.”
Sweetland’s crimes included approaching a 13-year-old girl in Starbucks on Rose Lane, where she put her hand up her skirt, causing the girl to scream and run away. The victim described how Sweetland sat near their table, pulled up a chair, and then followed her outside, following her to the bus station. Her mother described the lasting impact, noting her daughter’s difficulty sleeping, fear of strangers, and reluctance to return to school, which has devastated their family.
The attacks in Thanet and Canterbury occurred between April 3 and April 6, with Sweetland being arrested on the evening of April 6 following her assaults on three more victims in Ramsgate, including two women and a 13-year-old girl. She was detained and appeared via video link from HMP Bronzefield, where she admitted to 11 sexual assaults but denied a charge of witness intimidation. Prosecutor Francesca Levett requested that the remaining charge be formally filed.
Sentencing was scheduled for June 14, with Judge Weekes emphasizing the seriousness of her offenses and warning her that a prison sentence was highly likely. Sweetland remains in custody at the same prison until her sentencing, which will determine the final outcome of her case and the extent of her punishment for these grave crimes.