KEITH WILLIAMS SENTENCED IN EASTBOURNE FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL

A man from Eastbourne has been formally sentenced for the grievous crimes of rape and sexual abuse committed against a young girl in Sussex. Keith Williams, aged 60, was found guilty of a series of heinous acts that spanned several years, during which he exploited and harmed the victim in ways that have left a lasting impact.

The young girl, whose identity remains protected by law to preserve her privacy, demonstrated remarkable bravery in coming forward to report her abuse. Her courage was instrumental in bringing the case to light, and she received support from specially trained officers who are skilled in handling such sensitive cases. The incidents came to the attention of Sussex Police in May 2020, after the girl confided in a family member about her experiences. This disclosure prompted immediate action from law enforcement authorities, leading to the arrest of Keith Williams.

Detective Sergeant Nick Green, a representative of the Eastbourne Safeguarding Investigations Unit, publicly commended the victim for her resilience. He emphasized the importance of her decision to report the crimes, stating, “Williams carried out heinous crimes that breached the trust of his victim. She showed tremendous bravery and courage to report her experience to police.”

The case was brought before Hove Crown Court, where Williams faced a five-day trial at Lewes Crown Court. On September 20, the court delivered its verdict and sentencing. Williams was sentenced to a total of twenty years in prison, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

The court proceedings revealed that Williams, who resides on Tintern Close in Eastbourne, was convicted on multiple counts. These included four counts of raping a girl under the age of 13, one count of sexual assault by penetration, one count of sexual assault by touching, and one count of child cruelty. The conviction followed a thorough investigation and trial, which concluded on August 2.

In commenting on the case, DS Green reiterated the police department’s commitment to justice and victim support. “We take all reports of rape and sexual assault seriously, and encourage victims to report their experience to police,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that dangerous offenders like Williams are removed from our streets, so that the community can be safer and victims can find justice.”