KARL RAINE'S CRIMES IN FAKENHAM: SHOCKING RAPE AND CHILD SEX OFFENSES LEAD TO LONG PRISON SENTENCE

In a case that has spanned several years and involved multiple court proceedings, Karl Raine, a man from Fakenham, has been found guilty of serious sexual offenses, including rape and the exploitation of a young girl. The lengthy legal process has highlighted the resilience of the victim, who was compelled to testify three separate times in court, demonstrating remarkable courage in the face of trauma.

Raine, aged 44 and formerly residing on Warren Avenue in Fakenham, was initially convicted in 2016 of multiple charges, including rape, sexual activity with a child, and the creation of indecent images of a child. However, these convictions were later overturned due to a procedural irregularity that compromised the fairness of the trial. Specifically, during the original proceedings, an interview transcript was improperly presented to the jury, which should not have been allowed, rendering the verdict invalid.

Following this setback, a new trial was conducted at Norwich Crown Court. Over the course of four weeks, a fresh jury carefully examined the evidence and ultimately returned a verdict of guilty on all counts. The jury found Raine guilty of one count of rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child, and four counts of making and possessing indecent images of a child. The case was particularly arduous for the victim, who had been waiting four years for justice since Raine's initial arrest. She was required to give evidence three times, enduring the emotional strain of reliving her ordeal.

Prosecutor Duncan O’Donnell emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “They will not have known until now but they are not the first jury to have found Mr. Raine guilty of all counts on this indictment. In August 2016, there was a trial on the same counts, and another jury reached exactly the same verdict. Due to a procedural irregularity, those verdicts were quashed.”

The investigation into Raine’s activities began in earnest on April 24, 2014, when Norfolk Police’s Safeguarding Children Online Team executed a search warrant at his residence. The operation was initiated based on intelligence provided by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), a branch of the National Crime Agency (NCA). Raine was subsequently arrested on June 28, 2014, and charged with six offenses related to child sexual abuse in April 2015. He was released on police bail but remained under suspicion.

Further developments occurred in January 2016, when police returned to Raine’s home after receiving additional information. During this encounter, Raine threatened officers with what was later identified as an imitation firearm. Although he initially denied the incident, he was later convicted of causing fear or provocation of violence with an imitation firearm. The court proceedings culminated in Raine’s sentencing, where Judge Stephen Holt acknowledged the extensive efforts of the jury and the victim’s perseverance. Raine was sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

In a separate but related case in September 2016, Raine was convicted of raping, sexually assaulting, and taking indecent images of a young girl. This trial, which lasted approximately two and a half weeks at Norwich Crown Court, resulted in an 18-year prison sentence. Raine, who had pleaded not guilty, was found guilty on all six counts, including rape, sexual assaults, and possession of indecent images. The case was initiated after the same intelligence from CEOP led to a warrant at his Fakenham residence, and subsequent investigations confirmed his involvement in these heinous acts. Raine’s actions have left a lasting impact on his victims, and his sentencing underscores the seriousness with which the justice system treats such offenses.