PHILLIP MONKSFIELD SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON IN MAIDSTONE FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In August 2017, Phillip Monksfield was sentenced to 17 years in prison after being convicted of child sex offences involving a young girl he had repeatedly abused over nearly a decade. The former resident of Faversham and Sheerness was found guilty of two counts of rape, two of sexual assault of a child under 13, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and possessing indecent images of a child. He denied an additional charge of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two more sexual assault charges; however, the jury could not reach verdicts on these, and the prosecution chose not to pursue them further. Monksfield, aged 32 at the time, was handed a sentence under a public protection order, requiring him to serve two-thirds before eligibility for parole, and will remain on licence for an additional five years.

The court heard that the abuse began nearly 10 years prior, with Monksfield attacking the girl after discovering she had been previously abused. He subjected her to groping, asking, “Did he touch you like this?” and coerced her into sexual acts, threatening her with violence and death if she told anyone. At one point, he pushed her into a cupboard. The victim delayed reporting the abuse out of fear of not being believed and was driven to the verge of suicide.

Prosecutor Sarah Ellis described how Monksfield molested the girl repeatedly, including raping her on a table, while threatening to kill her if she disclosed his actions. Monksfield, now residing in Romford, Essex, denied any misconduct, suggesting others might have harmed the girl, but not himself.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens highlighted the impact on the victim, noting her “haunted demeanour” during her testimony and describing her as demonstrating “the bravery of this young lady” when recounting her suffering. He observed her emotional state, noting her humiliation, degradation, shame, and trust issues, especially towards men. The judge described Monksfield’s lack of remorse and insight as “abhorrent to all” and confirmed his lifetime inclusion on the sex offenders’ register.

Addressing Monksfield directly, the judge stated, “Having considered all the material and watched you give evidence, I am quite satisfied you are dangerous. Therefore, there will be an extended sentence. Your actions robbed the victim of her childhood. You controlled, manipulated, threatened, and used violence to silence her. The mental scars she bears may begin to heal, but the profound psychological damage you left behind remains.”

The court also received a victim statement detailing the long-term psychological effects of the abuse. The victim expressed difficulty trusting men, describing how she could not tolerate male teachers, which hindered her education. She revealed she developed PTSD, depression, and tendencies toward self-harm, including two suicide attempts, overdoses, and hospitalizations. She described feeling extremely vulnerable, with abuse impacting her daily life and mental health, saying, “Some days I can’t perform the most simple tasks.”