PENSIONER JAILED FOR 28 YEARS FOR REPEATED CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT

A pensioner named Keith Ruggles, aged 75, has been convicted and sentenced to a total of 28 years in prison for the repeated sexual assault of a young girl, starting when she was just nine years old. He appeared at Basildon Crown Court on April 18, where he was labeled as a "dangerous" individual by the judge. Essex Police launched an investigation in June 2022 after a report of past sexual abuse was received, despite Ruggles being in prison at the time serving a 21-year sentence for separate sexual offences. Ruggles pleaded guilty to charges including the rape of a child under 13, multiple counts of assault by penetration, and sexual touching of a child under 13, all related to this case. In March 2023, he had already appeared in court and admitted to all charges, and was sentenced on Thursday to serve 28 years concurrently with his previous sentence, with a minimum of 20 years before parole eligibility. The judge ordered that he would not be eligible for parole until he reaches the age of 96. The investigation was managed by PC Jane Grieve, who praised the victim's dignity and strength throughout the process, emphasizing that no one should endure such trauma. D/Supt Neil Pudney also commented on Ruggles being a dangerous man, thanking PC Jane Grieve and her colleagues for their work that contributed to Ruggles’s guilty plea, which prevented further risk to the community. He encouraged victims of non-recent offences to report them regardless of the passage of time, affirming that Essex Police is committed to supporting victims and pursuing justice.