KEVIN RODGERS FROM CHARD AND EASTON SENTENCED IN BRISTOL AND LONDON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a series of disturbing criminal cases spanning several years, Kevin Rodgers, a man with a long history of sexual offenses against children, has faced multiple convictions and sentencing hearings. His criminal activities, which have taken place across locations including Chard, Easton, and Bristol, have shocked communities and prompted judicial scrutiny over the adequacy of previous sentences.

In July 2017, Rodgers, aged 42 and residing on Belmont Street in Bristol, was at the center of a high-profile case involving the molestation of a four-year-old girl. Initially, at Taunton Crown Court in June of that year, Rodgers pleaded guilty to two counts of indecency and two counts of indecent assault against the young girl. The court, considering his previous criminal record, decided not to impose a custodial sentence, opting instead for a community order. The judge described his case as 'exceptional,' citing Rodgers' prior imprisonment for similar offenses and the fact that he had not offended since his last incarceration.

However, this leniency was challenged by the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC, who believed the original sentence was insufficient given the gravity of Rodgers' crimes. The case was escalated to the Court of Appeal in London, where Lady Justice Hallett and her colleagues reviewed the case. They ultimately overturned the initial decision, sentencing Rodgers to four and a half years in prison. Lady Justice Hallett emphasized that Rodgers' repeated sexual assaults, carried out against a background of grooming, were not exceptional in severity. She highlighted the victim’s bravery in coming forward after years of suffering, noting that Rodgers had chosen to remain silent and wait for the victim to make a complaint.

Further details revealed that Rodgers' abuse of the girl ceased in 2002, following his arrest for a series of sex crimes against young boys. He was sentenced to six years in prison for sexual acts committed on seven boys aged six to twelve. Since then, Rodgers has been incarcerated three additional times for breaching a sexual harm prevention order, including incidents in 2007 when he was seen loitering outside a school in Bridgwater, and in 2011, which resulted in a three-year prison sentence. Overall, Rodgers has served what amounts to a decade behind bars for various offenses, including indecency, possession of indecent photographs, and violations of his sexual harm prevention order.

Despite the seriousness of his past crimes, a probation report suggested that further imprisonment might hinder his rehabilitation progress. Based on this, the court initially opted for a community-based sentence, believing it would be more beneficial for Rodgers to receive treatment and supervision. Nevertheless, the Attorney General appealed, arguing that the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal agreed, and Rodgers was subsequently sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Earlier in 2017, Rodgers had also pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offenses committed while he was living in Chard. These included counts of gross indecency and indecent assault on a girl under 13, with incidents dating back to between 1998 and 2002. He admitted to inciting the girl to perform sexual acts, including an act of indecency involving urination into a glass, and to other indecent acts, some involving the girl being naked. The court heard that Rodgers' abuse stopped after his arrest in 2002, which led to his six-year imprisonment for abusing young boys.

In a separate case in May 2011, Rodgers, then aged 36 and living on City Road in St Paul’s, Bristol, was sentenced to three years in jail after following a 14-year-old boy into a toilet at a church. Despite being under a court order that banned him from contact with children, Rodgers had been seen engaging the boy in conversations about homosexuality and had followed him into the restroom. The incident was reported by the boy’s mother, who had observed Rodgers loitering and acting inappropriately. Rodgers' history of breaches of the sexual offences prevention order included previous arrests for loitering near schools and possessing images of children, leading to multiple jail terms.

Rodgers' behavior was also documented in a BBC Panorama documentary, which captured him loitering in Bristol and exhibiting predatory tendencies. His defense argued that he was seeking help for his issues and that no physical contact or grooming had occurred during the recent incidents. Nonetheless, the court found that Rodgers had shown a persistent disregard for court orders designed to protect children, and he was sentenced to an additional three years for breaching his SOPO.

Throughout these proceedings, Rodgers' case has raised serious concerns about the adequacy of sentencing for repeat offenders with a history of child sexual abuse. The courts have recognized the danger posed by Rodgers and have taken steps to ensure he is detained for a significant period to prevent further harm. His case underscores the ongoing challenge of managing offenders with deep-seated behavioral issues and the importance of strict enforcement of protective orders to safeguard vulnerable children.