CHRISTOPHER LEHANE RAMSGATE SEX OFFENDER CONVICTED AFTER COURT OUTBURST

In a case that has shocked the local community of Ramsgate, Christopher Lehane, a 36-year-old man with no fixed address, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two 13-year-old girls. The incident took place on March 14 in the vicinity of Hollicondane Lane, where Lehane approached the young girls as they sat on benches around 7 pm. According to court proceedings, Lehane, who had recently been evicted from his home, initially asked the girls for a cigarette. When they declined, citing their age as a reason, Lehane then inquired if they could help him find a place to stay, raising suspicions about his intentions.

During the encounter, Lehane's behavior became increasingly inappropriate. The court heard that he briefly rubbed one of the girls' legs before turning his attention to her friend. He then proceeded to slide his hand up the second girl’s school skirt after asking if she was feeling cold. Lehane denied touching the first girl, claiming he did not do so, but admitted to briefly touching the second girl out of concern, which the court did not find credible.

The incident was further marred by an emotional outburst from one of the girls’ fathers, who was present in the courtroom. He was forcibly removed by security guards after shouting at Lehane, exclaiming, “You have got a paedophile in here and something should be said about it. As parents, we should be able to defend our children. You have got Jimmy Savile abusing children. Something needs to be done.” This dramatic moment underscored the gravity of the case and the community’s outrage.

Lehane, a father of four, was charged with two counts of sexual assault. The magistrates found him guilty and ordered him to return to Margate court on November 9 for sentencing. In the meantime, Lehane has been placed on the sex offenders’ register and released on unconditional bail while a pre-sentence report is prepared. The case has left many residents of Ramsgate deeply concerned about the safety of children in their community and has reignited discussions about safeguarding and justice for victims of sexual misconduct.