FOLKESTONE SERIAL RAPIST STEPHEN DOWLE SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS FOR MULTIPLE VICTIMS

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Folkestone, Stephen Dowle has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of a series of heinous crimes involving two young women. The sentencing took place at Canterbury Crown Court, where the court heard how Dowle, aged 42 and residing on Trinity Crescent, committed a total of 11 counts of rape over a period spanning nearly a decade.

Dowle’s criminal actions targeted two female victims, one of whom was only seven years old at the time of the abuse. The court was told that his actions had a profound and lasting psychological impact on both women. The older victim, now in her twenties, described suffering from persistent nightmares and panic attacks, which continue despite Dowle being in custody. She also revealed that she finds it impossible to shop alone, illustrating the deep emotional scars left by his crimes.

The younger victim’s carer provided a harrowing account of her ongoing struggles. The girl, who was a child at the time of the abuse, now suffers from night terrors and severe anxiety. She finds it difficult to trust adults and has expressed her feelings through drawings, including a wanted poster with the words, “It’s okay, he is in prison and can’t get me now.” Her carer emphasized her difficulty in talking about Dowle, noting that during play, she focuses on bad people and wishes for them to be jailed.

Judge Simon James addressed Dowle directly during the sentencing, condemning his lack of remorse and insight into the gravity of his actions. The judge described Dowle as “a sexual deviant” and highlighted the severe psychological damage inflicted on his victims. He commended the victims for their bravery in coming forward and reporting their ordeal, despite the trauma they endured.

Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe characterized Dowle’s conduct as “a campaign of rape,” emphasizing how his actions have made the victims’ childhoods “unthinkable.” The court found Dowle guilty of seven counts of raping underage girls, assaulting a girl under 16, and four counts of raping a female over 16.

In his sentencing, Judge James stated that Dowle would serve two-thirds of his 24-year sentence before being eligible for parole, with an additional four years to be spent on licence. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his crimes and the lasting impact on the victims, who have shown remarkable resilience in the face of such trauma.