August 2012

Paedophile’s jail term welcomed by ex-neighbours

RESIDENTS in a Tunbridge Wells street have spoken of their relief after a paedophile was jailed for committing a string of sex offences against a young girl.

Timothy Osborne, 41, who used to live in Polesden Road before moving to another address in Tunbridge Wells earlier this year, has been jailed for eight years for his crimes which began in 1999 when his victim was around five.

His former neighbours have welcomed his jail term.

One, whom the Courier agreed not to name, said: “That’s brilliant news, it really is. Best news I’ve heard all day.

“He used to sit looking out his window wearing his yellow jacket, looking at all the kids. So we used to keep the kids playing down the other end of the road.

“It took a long time but I’m pleased he’s got that sentence.”

Osborne’s house and car were targeted in a string of vigilante attacks while he lived in Polesden Road, with residents saying windows were regularly smashed.

Another neighbour said: “We were pleased when he moved away, we’re just glad he’s not here anymore – especially when we found out what he was arrested for, because there are a lot of children around here.

“His house and car had windows smashed a lot, so it was also a concern someone might get the wrong address and put ours through.”

Osborne was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court of two offences of indecent assault and two of sexual assault on a girl under 13. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

As he put him behind bars on Friday, Judge Michael Carroll said Osborne had been guilty of a “catalogue of sexual misbehaviour”.

He added: “It was reprehensible behaviour. You made threats to her to prevent her reporting these incidents to anybody.”

He told Osborne he had read the victim impact statement adding: “I hope you have too. I hope in due course it will dawn on you the effect your behaviour has had and will continue to have in future.”

The court was told when Osborne began touching the girl, and he threatened to hit her if she told anyone what he was doing to her.

Prosecutor John O’Higgins told the court as the girl got older Osborne tried to take his advances further.

He referred to a time when the girl had screamed and fought Osborne off after he climbed on top of her.

Osborne’s counsel, Jan Hayne, said her client had suffered from depression and did not accept the jury’s finding he was guilty.

She added: “He has found himself at great peril. He is aware of the disgust with which he is viewed.”

In addition to the jail sentence Osborne’s name will be on the sex offenders’ register for life, he will be subject to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and will also be banned from working with children.