JONATHAN KENT FROM BARNARD CASTLE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEX WITH TEENAGE GIRLS IN COUNTY DURHAM

In a case that has drawn significant attention in the Teesside and County Durham regions, 21-year-old Jonathan Kent, a resident of the Barnard Castle area, was spared immediate imprisonment despite his involvement in sexual activities with two underage girls. The incident, which took place in July 2009, involved Kent engaging in sexual relations with two teenage girls, aged 13 and 15, raising serious concerns about the exploitation of minors and the legal responsibilities of adults in such situations.

During the court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, Judge Peter Fox, who is recognized as one of the most senior judges in the area, delivered a verdict that surprised many observers. Although acknowledging the gravity of Kent’s actions, the judge decided against imposing a custodial sentence. Instead, he sentenced Kent to a six-month prison term, suspended for two years, coupled with supervision requirements. The judge emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable young girls from themselves, stating, “The court has a duty, in so far as it is able, to protect even promiscuous young girls from themselves. That’s why – in principle – there must be a prison sentence in your case, but it is six months, suspended for two years, with supervision attached to that order.”

Interestingly, Judge Fox declined to issue a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which would have restricted Kent’s activities, citing the proposed terms as “too vague and impractical.” The court was informed that Kent had a prior history of contact with one of the girls, having met her when she was 12 and he was 16. They had gone out several times before losing touch. However, the relationship was rekindled last year when the older girl saw Kent working at Morrisons supermarket in Barnard Castle. She obtained his mobile number through a friend, and the two began exchanging messages, eventually reigniting their relationship.

According to court reports, the girl initially refused to engage in sexual activity, but after sharing a drink with Kent, she agreed to accompany him to a secluded area within the grounds of Teesdale School. The situation escalated when she later discovered that Kent was also sleeping with the younger girl, aged 13. This revelation led the older girl to threaten to report Kent to the police. To keep her quiet, Kent paid her £80, a detail that was brought to light during the proceedings.

The case further unraveled when the girl confided in a teacher about her sexual encounter with a man she believed to be 20 years old. This confession prompted the authorities to investigate, revealing that Kent had paid the girl to remain silent, and that the girls involved were not entirely inexperienced, as mobile phone and chat-room message analyses indicated. The defense, represented by Scott Smith, argued that Kent paid the money out of fear for his own safety and that the girls, despite their age, were “streetwise.” Mr. Smith also highlighted that Kent was suffering from mental health issues, which he claimed should be considered during sentencing.

It was also revealed that Kent, who was employed at a supermarket in Barnard Castle, had anticipated a jail sentence and had already resigned from his job. The court’s decision to suspend the sentence rather than impose immediate imprisonment was met with mixed reactions, but it underscored the complex considerations involved in cases involving minors and adult offenders in the County Durham area.