April 2010

Littlehampton couple preyed on young girls

A husband and wife worked as a team to lure young girls into their home and then abuse them.

For almost ten years Tina Townsend-Oldfield encouraged children into her home so husband Frank could violently rape and sexually abuse them.

First the pair groomed their victims, welcoming them into their homes and encouraging them to sleep there.

But then they turned on the youngsters, repeatedly assaulting them and leaving them terrified to speak out.

After their arrest the couple, of Oliver Acre, Littlehampton, admitted subjecting three girls aged between 12 and 14 to horrific abuse.

Mr Townsend-Oldfield, 59, was told he would serve an indeterminate prison sentence when he appeared at Chichester Crown Court and would only be released from prison when he was no longer deemed a risk to the public, with a minimum of 14 years.

He had admitted rape, buggery, three counts of sexual intercourse with a child aged under 13, indecent assault and intimidating a witness.

Mrs Townsend-Oldfield, 35, admitted aiding and abetting buggery, aiding and abetting sexual intercourse with a child aged under 13 and encouraging a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity.

The first victim told rape counsellors in 2008 about the abuse she had suffered five years before, but did not want to tell the police.

It was only when detectives started investigating the cases of two other victims who came forward that she summoned the courage to speak out.