March 2016

Jail for sex offender who sexually touched young girl

A Maidstone sex offender has been jailed for five years after touching a young girl inappropriately as she slept.

The assault happened at a family barbecue on June 14 last year.

David Papworth, 29, formerly of Waterloo Street, Maidstone, was reportedly drinking in the garden and came back inside the property when everyone else was asleep.

The following day his victim told her mother that Papworth had entered her room and touched her inappropriately.

After handing himself in, Papworth was charged with sexual assault, and was found guilty at a trial after denying it.

DC Emma Crombie said: “David Papworth took advantage of a child who was far too young to understand the gravity of what was happening.

“However, she was able to tell her mother and from that we were able to gain evidence from a very brave young girl.

“I want to thank the victim and her family for the courage to go through what must have been a very traumatic experience, but that led to a man being rightly convicted for a very serious crime. He can now be prevented from causing harm to others.”

Papworth was sentenced on Friday 26 February 2016.