MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 20 YEARS FOR HISTORIC CHILD ABUSE
A man from Ramsgate has received a 21-year prison sentence after being convicted of a series of historic sexual offences that took place nearly three decades ago.John Sladden, aged 72, preyed on three young girls during a period spanning several years.
The crimes went undetected until March 2024, when the victims reported the abuse.
Two of the women independently approached Kent Police, detailing how Sladden had sexually assaulted them on multiple occasions during their childhood.
Subsequently, a third victim disclosed to authorities that she had suffered extended sexual abuse by Sladden throughout her youth.
Investigations revealed that the abuse had occurred from the late 1990s into the early 2000s, leading to an extensive inquiry into these historical allegations.
Sladden was taken into custody and faced numerous charges related to sexual offences against children.
After a four-week trial at Canterbury Crown Court, a jury unanimously convicted him of 11 counts of child sexual abuse on June 11, 2026.
He was then sentenced to 21 years in prison during a court hearing on July 3, 2026.
