CANVEY MAN, 85, JAILED FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING TWO YOUNG GIRLS

An elderly man aged 85 from Canvey has been sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of two young girls. Stuart Hart, residing at Seaway, Canvey, appeared in front of Basildon Crown Court, where he received his sentence for multiple offences carried out over a decade. The police investigation began in May 2022 after Essex Police received a report with various allegations against Hart. During subsequent interviews, Hart denied the accusations entirely, describing them as "fanciful" and claiming the girls had "vivid imaginations." He faced three charges of assault by touching concerning the two victims. In an earlier hearing, Hart pleaded guilty to two of the charges but denied a third, which was later dropped. Today, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his crimes. Her Honour Judge Samantha Cohen remarked, "You have shown no remorse at any point in what you have done." Hart received an 18-month sentence for one count and a six-month sentence for the other, with both terms served concurrently. One of the victims expressed a sense of relief, stating, “This has had a major impact on my life, I think it will affect me for the rest of my life. It had been difficult, but it has definitely been worth it. I am relieved to see him go to prison for what he has done.” The victim also encouraged other victims to come forward, saying, “Please don’t suffer in silence. If you tell the police, you will be believed, and they will do their best to get justice. Support is available through organizations like Southend Rape Crisis.” Detective Constable Ian Burgess commended the courage of the victims and emphasized the importance of protecting children from predators. He stressed that Essex Police continually strive to bring offenders to justice, regardless of when the offences took place. He also highlighted that support services are accessible for victims and survivors of sexual abuse across the county.