DARREN FRANCIS FROM KINGSTHORPE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF UNDERAGE GIRL IN NORTHAMPTON

In a case that has shocked the local community of Kingsthorpe and the wider Northampton area, Darren Francis, aged 37, has been sentenced to over four years in prison for engaging in a disturbing and illegal relationship with a minor. The incident, which took place over a period of time, involved Francis allowing a teenage girl to stay at his flat in Kingsthorpe, despite repeated warnings from authorities and the girl’s own father to stay away.

According to court proceedings, the girl was only 13 years old at the time when the relationship began, while Francis was in his mid-thirties, making him approximately 20 years her senior. Prosecutor John Lloyd-Jones detailed that Francis had known the girl since she was 11, and was fully aware of her age. The girl was described as a troubled individual, with her parents struggling to control her behavior, which included frequent absences from home and involvement with substances.

In late 2007, the girl started to run away from her home and would often visit Francis’s flat in Kingsthorpe, where alcohol and drugs, primarily cannabis and occasionally cocaine, were readily available. It was reported that Francis not only used these substances himself but also facilitated their use among the teenagers who visited his flat. Court documents revealed that Francis deliberately sought to distance her from her parents, effectively becoming a negative influence and a dangerous figure in her life. The girl would visit his flat almost daily, often staying out late or not returning home, and when she did come back, she was frequently under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

By the summer of 2009, the girl decided to end her relationship with Francis, recognizing the harmful nature of their interactions. However, Francis was unable to accept her rejection and began to harass her, causing further distress. The girl later disclosed that she had consented to sexual activity with Francis, but it was emphasized in court that she was legally unable to give such consent due to her age.

Judge Charles Wide QC sentenced Francis to four years and three months in prison. In his remarks, the judge acknowledged that this case was not a typical exploitation scenario, as there appeared to be some genuine affection from the girl involved. Nonetheless, he stressed the severity of the crime, describing the relationship as wildly inappropriate and illegal. The judge made it clear that Francis was not convicted of supplying drugs to the girl, but the sexual relationship itself was enough to warrant a lengthy sentence.

Francis, who resides on Balfour Road in Kingsthorpe, had previously been involved in other criminal activities. He was due to stand trial but pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and assaulting her when she rejected his advances last year. His criminal history includes convictions for harassment, assault, burglary, affray, and robbery. Notably, he was also jailed in 2005 for repeated harassment of Sally Keeble, the former Labour MP for Northampton North. His past convictions and ongoing pattern of offending have contributed to the serious sentence handed down by the court, reflecting the gravity of his recent crimes and the impact on the young victim.