Dymchurch: Pensioner Jailed For Sex Attacks

A pensioner from Dymchurch has been jailed for 18 years for the historic sexual abuse of two young girls more than 35 years ago.

Sydney Head, 84, of Green Meadows, was found guilty by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court of seven counts of indecent assault, one of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and two counts of rape.

The catalogue of abuse, which began in the 1970s when one of the two victims was as young as six years old, was reported to Kent Police in September 2012.

Detectives carried out a thorough and detailed investigation and charged Head on 22 August last year.

After denying the offences, he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 6 June to 18 years imprisonment.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Matthew Jones of Kent Police, said: "Sydney Head targeted these two young girls when they were at their most vulnerable. From as young as six, they were subjected to what amounts to a horrific and vile campaign of sexual abuse.

"Not content with the physical and mental abuse his actions no doubt caused to his victims, Head continued to lie and forced them to relive the events in public during a trial. At no time during interview or at court did Head show any sign of remorse for his actions.

"On behalf of Kent Police, I would like to praise the two victims for coming forward and displaying the strength of character to talk about what happened to them. The length of the sentence reflects the serious nature of the offences and I hope at long last these two victims will feel a sense of justice having been done and can move on with their lives."