LANCING SEX OFFENDER DARRELL KENT'S SENTENCE INCREASED AFTER COURT OF APPEAL REPRIEVE

In a significant development in a case that has shocked the community of Lancing, Darrell Kent, a 34-year-old man residing on Ring Road, has seen his initial sentence for multiple sexual offences against minors dramatically increased following an appeal by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Originally, Kent was convicted of five separate sexual offences committed during the years 2000 and 2001, involving two teenage boys. The trial, which lasted three weeks, concluded at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, March 6. The court found him guilty on all counts, which included indecent assaults on the minors.

On April 10, the same court sentenced Kent to a two-year suspended prison term. Alongside this, he was ordered to pay costs amounting to £3,000 and was mandated to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years, a standard measure for such convictions. However, this initial sentence was deemed by the authorities to be insufficient, prompting the case to be referred to the Attorney General for review on the grounds of being 'unduly lenient.'

Subsequently, the Court of Appeal examined the case on Thursday, and a spokesperson confirmed that Kent’s sentence was increased to a custodial term of four years. This decision was met with relief by the victims’ families, particularly one family member who spoke to the Herald. She expressed her feelings of devastation upon hearing the original sentence, describing the family’s emotional turmoil and disappointment that Kent was allowed to walk free from court without serving time in prison.

She questioned the justice of the initial ruling, emphasizing that Kent was found guilty on all counts and questioning why he was not incarcerated. The family’s distress was palpable, but they found solace in the fact that the appeal resulted in a harsher sentence. The family member described the moment of hearing the verdict as a relief, stating, “Justice has been served.” She also expressed hope that this outcome would encourage other victims to come forward, offering reassurance that there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel.

In a related case from April 2017, Kent was initially spared jail time after being convicted of similar offences involving young boys. At that time, he received a two-year suspended sentence, was ordered to pay costs, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. The court found him guilty of carrying out three indecent assaults on one boy and two on another. Despite the gravity of the offences, the sentence was considered lenient, which later led to the appeal and the subsequent increase in his custodial term.