KENDEL OXLEY CHURCH STRETTON SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR ABUSING YOUNG GIRLS

In a case that has shocked the community of Church Stretton, Kendel Oxley, a 65-year-old man, has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses involving young girls. The conviction follows a lengthy trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court, where the jury deliberated and ultimately returned a verdict of guilty on all counts.

Oxley, a father of three, faced five charges of indecency with a child and three counts of indecent assault, all alleged to have taken place between the years 1968 and 1979. Despite his initial denial of the allegations, the evidence presented during the trial was compelling enough to convince the jury of his guilt. The court heard that the victims, all under the age of 13 at the time of the offenses, had suffered profoundly from Oxley's actions.

Judge Mark Eades presided over the case and sentenced Oxley to serve three-and-a-half years for the indecent assault charges, with an additional 16 months for the indecency with a child offenses. These sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Oxley will serve the longer term of three-and-a-half years in total. The judge described the offenses as “grave,” emphasizing the vulnerability of the victims and the severity of the crimes, which occurred decades ago but left lasting scars.

During the sentencing, Judge Eades acknowledged the impact of Oxley's actions on the victims, noting that it was likely that the defendant committed these acts without much forethought at the time. The court also ordered Oxley to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, a measure intended to monitor and restrict his activities following his release.

The court proceedings revealed that Oxley was accused by five different women, all of whom were under 13 years old when the abuse occurred. One of the victims testified that she was sexually abused by Oxley on multiple occasions. Oxley, who previously worked for the advertising department of the Shropshire Star, resides on Longhills Road in Church Stretton. The case has brought to light the disturbing reality of abuse within the community and the importance of justice for the victims involved.