EPSOM SEX OFFENDER CLIFFORD LOWN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR RAPE AND ABUSE
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Epsom, Surrey, Clifford Lown, aged 49, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 20 years after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving the abuse and sexual assault of children spanning over two decades.Clifford Lown's criminal activities came to light following a detailed trial at the Old Bailey, where evidence revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that began in 1987 and continued until 2010.
The court heard that Lown had targeted at least three children during this period, subjecting them to sexual abuse and exploitation.
The severity of his crimes was compounded by the fact that he filmed himself raping one of his victims in 2004, an act he later used as part of his defense by handing the video over to police.
The court was informed that Lown had abused two girls between 1987 and 1997, and a third child in 2010.
One of the victims, who was a child at the time, was coerced into having sex with Lown in 2004 under threats that her children would be taken away by social services.
This manipulation and intimidation underscored the predatory nature of his actions.
During the trial, jurors learned that Lown had provided police with a video depicting the assault on the adult victim, which he believed might somehow serve as a defense.
However, the court condemned his actions, with Judge Charles Wide QC describing his behavior as “utterly distorted.” The judge criticized Lown for his grotesque misunderstanding of morality and empathy, highlighting that his belief that the video could somehow aid him was a clear indication of his warped thinking.
In total, Lown was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault, three counts of indecency with a child, four counts of rape, and one count of sexual assault of a child.
The judge emphasized that the case contained numerous aggravating factors, leading him to impose a sentence beyond the typical range of 13 to 19 years.
Additionally, Lown was permanently barred from working with children and was ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for life, ensuring he would be monitored for the foreseeable future.
Judge Wide’s sentencing reflects the gravity of Lown’s crimes and the profound impact on his victims, as the community of Epsom grapples with the aftermath of these disturbing revelations.
