November 2012 Ramsgate pervert jailed for abusing girl he was meant to protect PERVERT Mark Austen is starting a prison sentence after abusing a seven-year-old girl he was meant to protect. Austen, 48, of St Leonards Avenue, Ramsgate was jailed for 12 years 8 months after he admitted six counts of attempted rape and indecent assault stretching over five years. Four other offences against another young girl were allowed to lie on the file. Jailing him at Canterbury Crown Court, Judge Heather Norton said the girl who cannot be named for legal reasons had felt “guilt, shame and disgust” with herself as a result of what Austen had done. She said: “This was a sustained course of abuse against a young child you were meant to be looking after. You should have protected her. “Her guilt, shame and disgust and later her depression caused her to attempt to take her own life. “Your account was as far away from hers as it was possible to get. This was a sustained and prolonged period of offending. This was a gross misuse of trust.” Peter Forbes, prosecuting, said: “These events had a significant impact on her making it difficult for her to form relationships.” Austen was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.