KENNETH MARR AND SHOCKING CHILD MOLESTATION IN BRISTOL AND CANTERBURY
A young girl who was subjected to molestation by a devout churchgoer expressed her feelings to the police, revealing that the experience left her feeling 'super sad and mad.' During a court hearing at Canterbury Crown Court, it was revealed that Kenneth Marr, an agricultural worker, had befriended and groomed the young girl before exploiting her on two separate occasions.The court heard that Marr, aged 62, was convicted by a jury of 10 to 2 of two counts of assault by penetration.
He is now set to serve a prison sentence of six and a half years.
Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson addressed the jury, explaining that Marr, who had met his victim in Ashford, attempted to dismiss the allegations by claiming that the girl had been encouraged by others to make false accusations.
However, the prosecutor emphasized that evidence pointed to Marr having an unhealthy sexual interest in the child and that he deliberately took advantage of her vulnerability to commit the offenses.
DNA evidence was presented in court, revealing Marr’s genetic material in the girl’s underwear, which supported the allegations.
The court was also informed that when police interviewed the young girl, she used a drawing to illustrate how she had been inappropriately touched.
She told officers that Marr had 'done something wrong,' and described her emotional response to the incident, stating that what he did made her feel 'super sad and mad.' Despite Marr’s denial of the charges, the girl maintained that he was lying and insisted that he was wrong.
The prosecution highlighted her response as a sign of her honesty and truthfulness, asserting that her testimony was clear and emphatic.
In addition to the two counts of assault by penetration, Marr also denied a charge of sexual assault.
The jury acquitted him of this particular charge, but the conviction on the other counts stood.
Defending Marr, lawyer John Barker explained that Marr had spent many years working in the fields of Spain before returning to the UK, where he was supported by the church community.
Despite this, Judge Simon Taylor KC sentenced Marr to an extended term of six and a half years in prison, with an additional year added to any license period.
The judge remarked that Marr should have accepted the Christian friendship offered to him and grown from it, rather than committing these offenses.
The judge also emphasized that Marr’s crimes were not isolated incidents but involved grooming, pretending to care, and feigning friendship to facilitate his abuse.
Upon release, Marr will be required to register as a sex offender indefinitely and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the public.
