TREVER FRANKLIN FROM BEXLEYHEATH JAILED FOR 21 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE IN THE 1980S

In a case that has shocked the local community of Bexleyheath and beyond, Trevor Franklin, aged 62, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 21 years after being convicted of multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of young boys during the 1980s. The offences, which occurred over three decades ago, involved Franklin grooming and assaulting boys he met through the now-defunct Citizens Band (CB) radio network, a popular wireless communication tool used extensively in the 1970s and 1980s before the advent of the internet and mobile phones.

Franklin, who was 61 at the time of his sentencing, faced a total of 11 charges of child sexual abuse that dated back to the period between 1985 and 1993. The court heard that he had engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior, targeting boys aged between 11 and 15 years old. His crimes included raping one teenage boy and indecently assaulting three other children, all of whom he met through the CB radio network.

During the trial, it was revealed that Franklin used the CB radio to identify and communicate with his victims, exploiting this wireless technology that was widely used by enthusiasts at the time. The network served as a means for Franklin to establish contact with young boys, whom he then lured into his vehicle for trips, during which he would give them alcohol and cigarettes. He also invited some of his victims to his home in Bexleyheath, where the abuse continued.

At the time of the offences, Franklin was in his late 20s and early 30s, a period during which he exploited his position of trust and the anonymity provided by the radio network to carry out his predatory activities. The investigation into Franklin’s actions was initiated in 2015 after one of his victims came forward and reported the abuse to Surrey Police. This disclosure prompted a thorough investigation that ultimately led to Franklin’s arrest and subsequent conviction.

Franklin’s sentencing marks a significant victory for justice, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable children from exploitation, even many years after the crimes have been committed. The case also serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by technology when misused by predators, and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to bring such offenders to justice.