Chatham rapist jailed 30 years after offence
A pensioner who committed rape 30 years ago has been sentenced to nine and half years’ imprisonment. David Jarman, of Mountbatten Court, Littlehampton was convicted of raping a teenager in Chatham between 1989 and 1992. The incident was reported to Kent Police in March 2017. The 76-year-old pleaded not guilty to the offence but the jury convicted him and he was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on 22 October 2019. Jarman will be on the Sexual Offenders Register for life. Detective Constable Karen Caulfield, Kent Police’s investigating officer for the case, said: ‘Incidences of non-recent sexual abuse often come down to one person’s word against another’s and potential witnesses move on, memories may fade, and forensic opportunity is rare. We will always investigate allegations of sexual abuse thoroughly and proportionately, whether the alleged crimes took place recently or historically. ‘Jarman’s despicable behaviour would have had long term emotional and physical effects on the victim. It took a tremendous amount of courage for them to come forward, I am pleased that we have secured justice for them.’
