KEITH INNES JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN ROCHESTER

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Rochester community, Keith Innes, a 61-year-old man from Thatchers Lane, Cliffe, was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of multiple child sex offences. The conviction stems from a series of allegations that date back over two decades, highlighting a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned many years.

Innes was found guilty by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court in September of the previous year. The court established that he committed two separate acts of indecency with a child, along with five counts of indecent assault. The details of the case revealed a troubling catalogue of abuse, with the victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, providing her testimony from behind a screen during the trial to shield her from further trauma.

During the recent court appearance last Friday, Innes appeared in a wheelchair, a consequence of having his lower leg amputated due to complications from diabetes. His physical condition did not diminish the severity with which the court viewed his actions. Judge Philip Statman, presiding over the case, sentenced Innes to three years in prison and expressed his concerns about the defendant’s personality. The judge described Innes as having a “domineering personality” and noted that he showed no insight into the gravity of his offences.

In addition to the prison sentence, Innes was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having any contact with female children under the age of 16. He was also disqualified from working with children and ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely. These measures are part of ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable minors from potential harm.

At the time of the offences, Innes was employed as a highways engineer and was residing in Chatham. Throughout the trial, he was cleared of two additional charges of indecency with a child, one charge of indecent assault, one of attempted rape, and one of assault causing actual bodily harm. Furthermore, he faced allegations of attempted indecent assault and indecent assault involving two girls in the late 1980s, but the jury acquitted him of these charges.

Innes was also found not guilty of two allegations of sexual assault made against a girl in 2005. Interestingly, these particular accusations prompted the police investigation that uncovered the broader history of Innes’s misconduct. During his testimony, Innes vehemently denied all allegations, accusing the girls of lying. His defense lawyer, Crispian Cartwright, stated during the hearing that Innes “could not” accept the guilty verdicts, underscoring the defendant’s denial and the ongoing controversy surrounding the case.