DARREN ROCHFORD SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN KIDINGTON AND OXFORDSHIRE

In June 2020, a disturbing case of child sexual abuse came to light involving Darren Rochford, a man from Kidlington, who subjected a young girl to repeated acts of sexual violence and exploitation. Rochford, aged 50 and residing on Waverley Avenue in Kidlington, engaged in a prolonged campaign of abuse that left deep scars on his victim.

Throughout the ordeal, Rochford employed threats and intimidation to silence his victim. He explicitly told her that he would kill her if she ever disclosed the abuse to anyone, further instilling fear and helplessness. In addition to threats, he offered her money in exchange for sexual acts, coercing her into compliance. His heinous actions included recording some of the abuse, a video that was later recovered by police investigators among a collection of numerous other images depicting child exploitation.

The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, later described her feelings of disgust and shame. She revealed that the trauma inflicted by Rochford has haunted her, causing flashbacks and nightmares that continue to affect her daily life. Her testimony underscores the profound and lasting impact of his crimes.

Rochford had previously admitted to a series of serious charges, including 20 counts of rape, sexual assault, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, voyeurism, and the production and distribution of indecent images of children. These offenses spanned over the course of the 2000s and 2010s, primarily in Oxfordshire.

During the court proceedings at Oxford Crown Court, prosecutor Matthew Walsh detailed the extent of Rochford’s abuse, emphasizing the repeated nature of the assaults and the manipulative tactics he employed. The court heard that Rochford used blackmail and financial incentives to control his young victim, further illustrating the predatory and calculated nature of his crimes.

In addition to the abuse of the girl, police investigations uncovered a separate online paedophilia operation. During a raid at Rochford’s residence, authorities seized an Apple MacBook and three hard drives. An extensive examination of these devices revealed a cache of indecent images of children, totaling 1,321 images classified as the most severe category, A. There were also 1,569 images in category B and 2,457 in category C. Rochford was found to have distributed some of these images, indicating active participation in the sharing of child abuse material.

The victim of Rochford’s sexual assaults provided a personal statement to the court, describing the profound and enduring effects of the abuse. She expressed her feelings of being used and degraded, stating, “He was not a good man, he would shout a lot. I felt like he only wanted me for one thing, that was to sexually abuse me.” Her words highlight the emotional and psychological toll inflicted by Rochford’s actions.

Judge Peter Ross delivered the sentence, condemning Rochford’s actions as a deeply entrenched and depraved form of child exploitation. The judge described the abuse as involving “degradation and humiliation,” emphasizing the severity of the crimes. He stated, “It is the most dreadful and insidious corruption of a child and you did utterly corrupt her.”

As a result, Rochford was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison. He will serve an extended period of eight years on license following his release. Additionally, he is subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.