December 2012 Eastbourne doorman jailed for 15 years for sexual assaults on teenagers Doorman Marc Cornford befriended vulnerable teenage girls only to later sexually assault them. Tonight, the 38-year-old from Eastbourne is beginning a 15-year jail sentence after being convicted at Hove Crown Court. Cornford, from Percival Road, Eastbourne, was found guilty of sexually assaulting and raping one of the girls over two years between 1995 and 1997; of sexually abusing and raping another girl over two years between 1998 and 2000; and sexually assaulting a third girl in November 2010. He was sentenced yesterday (Thursday) to 15 years’ imprisonment. Cornford will have to serve two-thirds of that sentence before being considered for parole and then after 15 years, even if he is released beforehand, he will be on licence for a further five years. Detective Constable Kat Hughes of the East Sussex CID Child Protection Team said; “Cornford targeted vulnerable girls who felt powerless to say no. “He befriended each of the victims via their parents and family members, all in Eastbourne, and became a trusting ‘friend of the family’ in each case. “He was then able to get each of the girls on their own and sexually abuse them. He even gave the first two the false hope that he wanted to have a continuing relationship with them. “This was a complex and distressing case but it shows that all incidents, no matter how historic can be fully investigated by us, and can be resolved in such a positive way. “The victims all showed great courage in coming forward and re-living these horrific events in such a public way, resulting in a dangerous man receiving a lengthy custodial sentence”.