TOBIAS AUFFRET SHOCKS DOVER AND FOLKESTONE WITH CRIME AGAINST TEEN DAUGHTER

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Dover and Folkestone, Tobias Auffret, a homeless man with no fixed address, was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a teenage girl. Auffret, who was previously residing in Dover before recently living in Folkestone, had taken advantage of the kindness shown to him by a good Samaritan who offered him shelter during a difficult period in his life.

The incident came to light in June of the previous year when the father of the teenage girl, who had been providing her with a safe home, noticed something unusual. As he was preparing to go to bed, he observed that his daughter’s bedroom light was still on. Concerned, he entered the room to turn off the light and was met with a shocking sight. There, lying on the bed, was his daughter, completely naked, and alongside her was Tobias Auffret, also unclothed. The father’s reaction was immediate and furious; he threw Auffret out of the house and later discovered that the man had been grooming his daughter for several weeks prior to the incident.

The young girl later confided in police that she had lost her virginity to Auffret, revealing the depth of the betrayal and the extent of his grooming behavior. The case was brought before Canterbury Crown Court, where prosecutor Dominic Connolly detailed the charges and the guilty plea entered by Auffret. The 31-year-old, who works at a garden centre, admitted to two sample charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

During the court proceedings, Auffret’s actions were described as callous and deeply damaging. Judge James O’Mahony expressed his condemnation, stating, “What a dreadful shock it must have been when the father discovered you in his daughter’s bedroom.” The judge emphasized the breach of trust and the severity of the crime, which involved a significant violation of the young girl’s innocence.

Further details revealed that Auffret had been grooming the girl over a period of weeks, a fact confirmed by her later statements to police. The victim’s mother confronted Auffret over the phone, asking him what had happened the previous night. His response was a disturbing display of indifference; he laughed and used profanity to describe his sexual encounters with the girl, claiming, “I have been doing it for weeks while you lot have been in bed asleep. There is nothing you can do about it.”

Throughout the proceedings, Auffret maintained that he could not recall the number of times he had engaged in sexual activity with the girl. His legal representative, barrister Paul Hogben, highlighted the personal consequences of his actions, noting that Auffret had lost his job, his relationship, and his family as a result. Hogben also insisted that Auffret did not target the girl intentionally, asserting that his actions stemmed from human weakness rather than predatory intent.

Judge O’Mahony condemned Auffret’s conduct as an “extraordinary breach of trust” and criticized his callous attitude, particularly his dismissive remark to the parents that they could do nothing about his actions. As part of the sentence, Auffret was also subjected to an eight-year sex offences prevention order, designed to prevent him from having any contact with children in the future. The case has left a lasting impact on the local communities of Dover and Folkestone, highlighting the devastating consequences of betrayal and exploitation within families.