HARLEY EVEREST SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR RAPE IN ST LEONARDS

In a case that has shocked the community of St Leonards, a man named Harley Everest has been handed a life sentence after being convicted of multiple heinous sexual offenses involving vulnerable teenagers from the area.

Everest, aged 23 and residing on Bohemia Road, was brought before Lewes Crown Court on Friday, May 25, following a thorough investigation conducted by safeguarding detectives. The court proceedings revealed that he was guilty of four counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault, and one count of witness intimidation. The verdict was delivered after a trial that concluded on May 9, and the severity of his crimes was met with a significant sentence.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 10 years and 165 days before he becomes eligible to apply for parole. Additionally, Everest will be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his activities post-release.

The criminal case detailed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. Everest arranged to meet one of his victims in November 2015, luring her back to his flat where he committed acts of rape and sexual assault. The young woman, whose courage in reporting the incident led to his arrest, called emergency services (999) on the same day. The police swiftly responded, initiating an investigation that led to Everest’s immediate arrest.

Further inquiries uncovered that two other teenagers, both under the age of 18 at the time, had also been subjected to sexual assault by Everest in his flat. One of these victims was assaulted on multiple occasions, including one count of rape and four counts of sexual assault. She also became a victim of witness intimidation when Everest approached her in November 2017 during the ongoing investigation and threatened her, an act that could have discouraged her from giving evidence. However, she demonstrated remarkable bravery by reporting the intimidation to the police.

The third victim suffered similar abuse, including rape and sexual assault, and was also under 18 during the incidents. The case highlighted the dangerous and manipulative nature of Everest’s actions, as he targeted vulnerable young women, many of whom had learning difficulties, in the local area of St Leonards.

Detective Constable Jane Donnelly of the Hastings Safeguarding Investigations Unit emphasized the seriousness of Everest’s conduct. She stated, “It became clear during our investigation that Everest posed a serious risk to vulnerable young females. He exhibited predatory behaviour towards them as he actively looked for opportunities to take advantage of these victims, all of whom he had met locally.”

She further praised the victims for their bravery, saying, “They were all very vulnerable and all had varying degrees of learning difficulties. It is thanks to their bravery by standing up to him and their commitment during the trial that a very dangerous sexual predator is no longer able to manipulate and take advantage of more young girls.”