Family Members Found Guilty of Prolonged Abuse Against Young Girl in West Sussex
A harrowing case of systematic child abuse within a family unit has concluded at Hove Crown Court, with multiple relatives convicted for their roles in years of cruelty and sexual violence against a young girl.
Years of Suffering in a So-Called "House of Horrors"
The court heard that the victim, now aged 13, was first subjected to abuse when she was just six years old, with the possibility it may have begun even earlier. The abuse persisted until she reached secondary school, creating a prolonged nightmare during her formative years.
Her own father, grandfather, and two brothers were all implicated in the systematic targeting of the vulnerable schoolgirl. The abuse occurred at all hours, with the young victim having no safe refuge within her own home environment.
Mother's Complicity and Additional Cruelty
Perhaps most disturbingly, when the girl attempted to disclose the sexual abuse to her mother, she faced further punishment rather than protection. The court heard how she was beaten, tied with ropes, and locked in a cupboard with tape over her mouth for days without food.
Prosecutor Jennifer Knight KC revealed that the mother told her daughter that "the whole family were suffering because of what she had said" and attempted to persuade the girl to lie to police investigators. The mother reportedly stated that having the girl as a daughter made her life "hell," so she would make the girl's life hell in return.
Detailed Evidence and Eventual Disclosure
The victim provided extensive evidence during a three-hour video interview, using diagrams and paper cut-outs to demonstrate what she had endured. She described being burned with cigarettes and forced to cover her injuries with makeup, while her father would beat her with a horse-whip, spit in her face, and pull her hair.
The abuse only came to an end when the girl, aged 12, confided in a teacher that she was afraid to return home. She told police: "I was really scared to go back home because I knew mum and dad would hit me a lot. I said I don't feel comfortable going home because of my parents."
Comprehensive Convictions and Family Impact
The family members, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, were convicted on a total of 39 charges including:
- Multiple counts of rape of a child under 13
- Sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13
- Sexual assault of a child under 13
- Cruelty to a person under 16
- False imprisonment
- Perverting the course of justice
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm
The convictions included:
- The 43-year-old father found guilty of multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and cruelty
- The 43-year-old mother convicted of cruelty, false imprisonment, and perverting justice
- The 70-year-old grandfather found guilty of sexual assault charges
- The 23-year-old older brother convicted of rape, inciting sexual activity, and assault
- The 20-year-old younger brother found guilty of rape, sexual assault, and assault
An uncle was also convicted of perverting the course of justice following the family's arrest. The court heard that the victim's sister was also abused at the West Sussex property, though details of those allegations were not fully disclosed during this trial.
Aftermath and Protection Measures
The victim has been placed into foster care since her family members were arrested in January of last year. The case highlights the devastating impact of familial abuse and the critical importance of safeguarding mechanisms within educational institutions.
The teacher's intervention ultimately provided the escape route from years of torment, demonstrating how professional vigilance can disrupt cycles of abuse even within seemingly impenetrable family units.
