KENNETH CLARKE FROM GILLINGHAM SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY OFFENCES NEAR MAIDSTONE AND CHATHAM
| Red Rose Database
Gillingham Sexual Abuser
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Kenneth Clarke, a 23-year-old man from Gillingham, has been sentenced to an indefinite period of imprisonment after a court found him guilty of a series of disturbing offences targeting young girls. The sentencing took place at Maidstone Crown Court, where the judge emphasized the dangerous nature of Clarke's actions and the threat he posed to the safety of minors in the area.
Judge David Griffith-Jones, QC, declared that Clarke would serve a minimum of two and a half years in prison, deducting the seven months he had already spent on remand. The judge clarified that Clarke would only be eligible for release if the parole board determined that he no longer posed a risk to the public, particularly to young females. Throughout the proceedings, Clarke displayed a smirk and kept his hands in his pockets, a demeanor that the judge described as arrogant and indicative of his lack of remorse.
The court heard that Clarke had engaged in a campaign of sexually motivated offences, which included attempting to abduct a teenage girl and molesting another at a bus stop. Despite denying the attempted kidnapping, Clarke was convicted of the offence. The case revealed that Clarke's family home in Gillingham is situated near a school, raising concerns about his proximity to vulnerable children.
Prosecutor Alex Scott recounted the details of the incidents. In July of the previous year, a 14-year-old girl was on her way to school in Maidstone when she noticed Clarke in his car. Feeling uneasy, she took a shortcut to avoid him. However, Clarke later found her again, stopped his vehicle, and approached her under the guise of asking for directions. As she leaned inside to listen, he seized the opportunity to grab her, attempting to pull her into his car while saying, “Come on love, I will take you to school.” The girl struggled and managed to escape, running to her school where she reported the incident to a teacher, who then contacted the police.
Further investigations revealed that just days prior, Clarke had approached another schoolgirl near his residence. A car stopped beside her, and the driver asked her age and requested her phone number. When she responded that she was 15, Clarke’s vehicle drove off, with him making a disturbing remark, “That doesn’t matter.”
Clarke’s criminal record also includes a conviction for sexual assault, which stemmed from an incident outside the Pentagon Centre in Chatham. There, he approached a 16-year-old girl at a bus stop, engaged her in conversation about bus routes, and then physically assaulted her. This pattern of predatory behavior led to his conviction for sexual assault and subsequent placement on the sex offenders’ register. Additionally, Clarke was prohibited from working with children or being in the company of girls, except for his own daughter.
The judge highlighted the disturbing nature of Clarke’s conduct, noting that his actions indicated he was actively seeking victims near areas frequented by young girls and schoolchildren. “There is little need for me to elaborate on the horrific consequences if your plans had not been thwarted,” he stated. “Your victim was terrorized and traumatized by your actions. The pattern of offences has escalated in a sinister way, which is compounded by your denial and lack of insight into the potential harm you could cause.”
While the judge initially considered a fixed-term sentence of five years, he ultimately decided on an indeterminate sentence, reflecting the serious concern for public safety and the ongoing risk Clarke poses to the community in Gillingham, Maidstone, and Chatham.
Judge David Griffith-Jones, QC, declared that Clarke would serve a minimum of two and a half years in prison, deducting the seven months he had already spent on remand. The judge clarified that Clarke would only be eligible for release if the parole board determined that he no longer posed a risk to the public, particularly to young females. Throughout the proceedings, Clarke displayed a smirk and kept his hands in his pockets, a demeanor that the judge described as arrogant and indicative of his lack of remorse.
The court heard that Clarke had engaged in a campaign of sexually motivated offences, which included attempting to abduct a teenage girl and molesting another at a bus stop. Despite denying the attempted kidnapping, Clarke was convicted of the offence. The case revealed that Clarke's family home in Gillingham is situated near a school, raising concerns about his proximity to vulnerable children.
Prosecutor Alex Scott recounted the details of the incidents. In July of the previous year, a 14-year-old girl was on her way to school in Maidstone when she noticed Clarke in his car. Feeling uneasy, she took a shortcut to avoid him. However, Clarke later found her again, stopped his vehicle, and approached her under the guise of asking for directions. As she leaned inside to listen, he seized the opportunity to grab her, attempting to pull her into his car while saying, “Come on love, I will take you to school.” The girl struggled and managed to escape, running to her school where she reported the incident to a teacher, who then contacted the police.
Further investigations revealed that just days prior, Clarke had approached another schoolgirl near his residence. A car stopped beside her, and the driver asked her age and requested her phone number. When she responded that she was 15, Clarke’s vehicle drove off, with him making a disturbing remark, “That doesn’t matter.”
Clarke’s criminal record also includes a conviction for sexual assault, which stemmed from an incident outside the Pentagon Centre in Chatham. There, he approached a 16-year-old girl at a bus stop, engaged her in conversation about bus routes, and then physically assaulted her. This pattern of predatory behavior led to his conviction for sexual assault and subsequent placement on the sex offenders’ register. Additionally, Clarke was prohibited from working with children or being in the company of girls, except for his own daughter.
The judge highlighted the disturbing nature of Clarke’s conduct, noting that his actions indicated he was actively seeking victims near areas frequented by young girls and schoolchildren. “There is little need for me to elaborate on the horrific consequences if your plans had not been thwarted,” he stated. “Your victim was terrorized and traumatized by your actions. The pattern of offences has escalated in a sinister way, which is compounded by your denial and lack of insight into the potential harm you could cause.”
While the judge initially considered a fixed-term sentence of five years, he ultimately decided on an indeterminate sentence, reflecting the serious concern for public safety and the ongoing risk Clarke poses to the community in Gillingham, Maidstone, and Chatham.