SIMON GERMAN SENTENCED TO INDEFINITE IMPRISONMENT FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN SITTINGBOURNE

In a case that has shocked the community of Sittingbourne, Simon German, a 31-year-old man, has been sentenced to an indefinite period of imprisonment following a series of heinous sexual offenses against young girls. The court heard that German, who resided on Shortlands Road in Sittingbourne, engaged in a pattern of manipulative and predatory behavior that betrayed the trust of his victims over an extended period.

German faced a total of 13 charges, including three counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act, and two counts of indecent assault. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence against these charges, denying the allegations. However, the jury found him guilty of all but two counts—specifically, he was acquitted of one sexual assault charge and another was dismissed by the judge's direction.

During the sentencing hearing, German's reaction was notably dramatic; he collapsed in the courtroom dock as the verdicts were announced last month. The presiding judge, Charles Macdonald QC, emphasized the severity of German’s crimes, describing his offending as a gross breach of trust that was carried out over a prolonged period, causing significant harm to the victims involved.

Judge Macdonald highlighted the aggravating factors in the case, including German’s apparent lack of remorse and his outright rejection of the court’s verdicts. A pre-sentence report painted a troubling picture of German as manipulative, devious, and predatory, with a history of domestic violence that further underscored his dangerous nature.

In delivering his sentence, Judge Macdonald stated, “In these circumstances, it would be perverse of the court not to pass a public protection sentence.” He explained that German would be required to serve a minimum of nine years before he could be considered for parole. The judge also noted that if a fixed-term sentence had been imposed, it would have been 18 years, but the indefinite sentence reflects the ongoing risk he poses to society.

German’s case has left a lasting impact on the community of Sittingbourne, raising concerns about the safety of children and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable individuals from predatory offenders.