GORDON BURGESS SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPE IN SHEERNESS

In September 2012, a disturbing case unfolded at Maidstone Crown Court involving Gordon Burgess, a 43-year-old former bus driver from Sheerness, who was convicted of heinous sexual offenses against a teenage girl. Burgess, residing on Thorn Hill Road in Warden, Sheerness, faced serious charges including two counts of rape and three counts of sexual activity with a minor. Despite his denial of the allegations, a jury composed of ten women and one man found him guilty of all charges, leading to a significant prison sentence.

The victim, a teenage girl, displayed remarkable resilience and bravery throughout the trial. She provided her testimony via a video link from a witness room, recounting her experience and the emotional toll it took on her. She explained that she tried to block out the traumatic events, stating, “I tried not to think about it.” The girl revealed that Burgess had raped her twice without using any form of protection. She emphasized that Burgess never issued threats or offered rewards to keep her silent, and she acknowledged that she could have sought help earlier but felt trapped, believing it was partly her fault for not reporting sooner. Ultimately, she contacted Childline and reported the abuse.

During the trial, the defense lawyer, Andrew Baughan, challenged the credibility of the girl’s allegations, suggesting that she fabricated the story. Baughan also noted that Burgess had been a reputable citizen prior to the offending period, which he described as relatively short and coinciding with a period of ill health. However, the judge, David Griffith-Jones QC, made it clear that the severity of Burgess’s actions warranted a lengthy prison term. He highlighted that Burgess had used no protection during the assaults, which he considered an aggravating factor, and stated that the criminality was at the higher end of the sentencing spectrum.

While Burgess’s personal circumstances were considered, including his poor health and role as a family man, the judge underscored the profound impact of his crimes on the victim. He praised her for her extraordinary fortitude in giving evidence and emphasized the importance of justice. As part of his sentence, Burgess was handed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from working with children. Additionally, his name will be registered on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Emily Hooper from Kent Police commented on the case, stating, “Burgess denied all the allegations that were made, but the victim’s strength in bravely giving evidence in court has helped us secure a substantial prison sentence. It will be a long time before Burgess is released from prison and I hope that will allow the victim to move on in life.”