November 2009 Eastchurch pervert jailed for eight years A pervert who abused three young girls has been jailed for eight years. Keith Portch, 46, was described as having a tendency for “controlling and abusive behaviour of a sexual nature”. Judge Martin Joy, sitting at Maidstone Crown Court, added that Portch, who was unanimously convicted of three offences of indecent assault and seven of sexual activity with a child, was also an aggressive bully. One victim was subjected to assaults which included what was described by prosecutor Christopher May as molestation “with some force”. The court also heard evidence about another girl who had made similar allegations several years ago but the matter was never proceeded with by the Crown Prosecution Service. A young woman also told of how he would make lewd comments and touch her bottom. Portch, of Brabazon Road, Eastchurch, smiled at his partner, family and friends in the public gallery as sentence was passed. Several had written what Judge Joy described as “impressive” character references on his behalf. But he added: “I accept you have a generous, charitable and caring side. “But it is one side of you. The other is a bullying, aggressive side which has involved sexual offences of a very serious nature.” Portch will serve half his sentence less 69 days already spent on remand. He told his girlfriend he loved her as he was led out of the dock and she replied the same. Others in court uttered words of support, including “Chin up” and “Don’t worry. We all know the truth”. Portch had previously been convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with an under-age girl.