JOHN COLLINS SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST YOUNG GIRL IN BEXLEYHEATH

In a case that has shocked the community of Bexleyheath, John Derek Collins, aged 54, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offences committed against a young girl over a span of several years. The proceedings took place at Croydon Crown Court, where Collins appeared to face justice for his heinous crimes.

According to court records, Collins was found guilty of two counts of raping a female child who was under the age of 16. In addition, he was convicted on three counts of indecent assault involving a girl who was younger than 14 at the time of the offences. The court also found him guilty of two counts of gross indecency with a female child, again under the age of 14.

It was revealed during the trial that Collins, who previously fostered children in the nearby town of Welling, began abusing the young girl when she was just eight years old. The abuse persisted over a period of five years, ceasing only when the girl reached the age of 13. The details of the case have caused widespread concern and distress within the local community, highlighting the devastating impact of such crimes on young victims.

The judge overseeing the case did not hold back in his sentencing, imposing a determinate prison sentence of 15 years on Collins. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, a requirement that underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to society. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from predators within the community of Bexleyheath.