JESSIE HILDEN SENTENCED FOR ABUSIVE CRIMES IN WEST MALLING AND MAIDSTONE

In December 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Jessie Hilden, a man from West Malling, who was convicted of heinous crimes against a young girl. The incident centered around Hilden’s abduction of a 14-year-old girl and subsequent sexual assault at a bed and breakfast in Maidstone, a nearby town. The court proceedings revealed the extent of his predatory behavior and the devastating impact on the victim.

According to court records, Hilden, aged 30 at the time, targeted a vulnerable child who had been placed in foster care due to a high risk of exploitation. The girl, who was under state protection, had gone missing from her care home, prompting authorities to initiate a search. It was during this investigation that police traced her to a hotel in Maidstone, where Hilden had taken her.

The prosecution detailed that Hilden had taken the girl to a bed and breakfast, where he bought her alcohol and engaged in sexual activity with her. The acts included an unnatural act that caused her pain, and the sexual encounter was unprotected. The court heard that Hilden’s actions were manipulative and predatory, exploiting her youth and vulnerability for his own gratification.

Police later encountered Hilden in Maidstone’s Knightrider Street. He initially denied any involvement with the girl, claiming he had not seen her. However, CCTV footage from the bed and breakfast confirmed that the two had been together. When arrested in May, Hilden denied any inappropriate relationship, but evidence and his subsequent actions painted a different picture.

Despite being released on bail with strict conditions not to contact the girl, Hilden continued to communicate with her via telephone. He urged her to delete all evidence from her phone and to lie to the police, further demonstrating his attempt to obstruct justice. The court also learned that Hilden had a criminal history, with 19 previous convictions spanning 30 offences, primarily related to dishonesty.

The victim, in a heartfelt statement, expressed her feelings of disgust and betrayal. She described feeling