Liam Ross Jailed for Raping 12-Year-Old Girl in Dartford
Liam Ross, 30, from Dartford, was slammed with a 12-year prison sentence at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday (March 2). The coach driver pleaded guilty to ten sex offences, including the shocking rape of a 12-year-old girl in Bexley.
Chilling Crimes Against Young Girls
Ross bizarrely claimed he thought the 12-year-old was old enough to consent. The judge swiftly dismissed this, saying: “Rape of a child under 13 is a strict liability offence,” meaning ignorance is no defence.
A pre-sentence report branded Ross’s behaviour as predatory and reckless. Though Judge Downing disagreed with parts of this, she insisted Ross must fully understand the “utter folly” of his crimes.
“This might send a message to those who think sailing close to the wind, being risky, is something they might like to do,” the judge warned.
Forever on Sex Offenders’ Register
The court ordered Ross to stay on the sex offenders’ register for life. Along with the rape charge, he admitted to paying for child sexual services, inciting child exploitation, sexual assault of a child, and possession of numerous indecent images.
This grim case sends a stark warning: the law will not tolerate those who exploit children, no matter their excuses.
