MILTON BROWN FROM BOW SENTENCED AFTER HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE OF 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN LONDON

On November 2, 1992, a deeply disturbing case involving the sexual abuse of a young girl in London’s Bow area came to light, revealing a series of heinous acts committed by multiple men over several years. The victim, who was only 12 years old at the time, had endured a series of traumatic experiences, including abuse by her own uncle, seduction by a child molester and his accomplice, and finally, a sexual encounter with a 21-year-old man. The court proceedings shed light on the extent of her suffering and the actions taken against her abusers.

It was revealed that the girl, referred to as Miss X, had been subjected to repeated sexual abuse by her uncle from the age of eight. These assaults occurred whenever they were alone in her family home in Bow, creating a cycle of trauma that would leave lasting scars. The situation escalated when, shortly after her twelfth birthday, she narrowly escaped an attempted abduction while walking home from school. She managed to break free from her attacker and sought refuge in her school classrooms, an act that likely saved her from further harm.

Just six days after this frightening incident, on June 16 of the previous year, Miss X encountered Milton Brown, a 38-year-old man from Bow. During their initial interaction, she confided in him about her uncle’s inappropriate advances. Instead of offering support or guidance, Brown took advantage of her trust. Prosecutor Mrs. Rebecca Poulet explained that Brown took her to a friend’s flat near her home, where he served her alcohol and then lured her into a bedroom. The girl reportedly tried to resist, attempting to push him away as he pushed her onto the bed and removed her track suit bottoms.

Following this assault, Brown dressed and took her to another flat on Seven Sisters Road in Holloway. There, she was sexually assaulted by another man, and Brown himself engaged in sexual activity with her at this location. The police acted swiftly, arresting Brown approximately 36 hours after he took the girl from her home. She was then reunited with her distressed parents, who had been frantic with worry.

Authorities managed to locate the second man involved, but he was not charged due to lack of evidence. Miss X failed to identify him during an identity parade, and forensic evidence was inconclusive. Brown, on the other hand, claimed that she had initiated their contact by kissing him and attempted to justify his actions by suggesting that his judgment was impaired by smoking cannabis. However, DNA fingerprinting proved his claims false, and he was found to have engaged in sexual activity with the girl.

During the court proceedings, Brown admitted to two charges of unlawful sexual intercourse. The case did not proceed with charges of rape or child abduction, partly to avoid forcing the girl to give evidence in court. It was also disclosed that, within two weeks of her encounter with Brown, she was molested again by the 21-year-old man who had previously admitted to unlawful sexual intercourse but disappeared before sentencing after being granted bail.

Further medical examinations revealed that the girl had been engaging in sexual activity for several years, leading to the arrest and questioning of her uncle. He denied the allegations, and charges against him were ultimately not pursued.

Defense lawyer Mr. David Farrington argued that the girl’s experiences had caused her to mistake sex for love and affection, highlighting the tragic impact of her abuse. Judge Michael Coombe QC initially considered a prison sentence of three to four years, emphasizing the severity of the crimes, stating, “It is a grave crime even if the girl is seen to be consenting. A girl of such tender years is entitled to be protected against men and against herself.”

However, given that Brown had already served the equivalent of 16 months in prison while awaiting trial, the judge decided on a different course of action. He explained, “If I were to impose a three-year sentence, what hope is there you will never do this again? The public interest will justify my taking a risk and sending you to a fairly rigorous regime for sex offenders.” Consequently, Brown was sentenced to two years’ probation with the condition that he attend a sex offenders’ clinic, marking a cautious but firm response to his crimes in the context of his prior detention.