DARYL BARTLEY SHOCKING SEX OFFENDER CASE IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND MAIDSTONE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Tunbridge Wells, Daryl Bartley, aged 28, of Sherwood Road, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to serious charges involving a young girl. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of disturbing behavior that spanned several months and involved multiple instances of sexual activity with a minor.

According to the evidence presented at Maidstone Crown Court, the victim was a 14-year-old girl who, for legal reasons, cannot be named. She reported that she and Bartley had engaged in sexual intercourse on as many as 40 occasions over a period of a few months. The court heard that the girl had gone missing for a week, during which time she was found hiding beneath the floorboards of Bartley's home, specifically under a built-in cupboard. This concealment was a direct response to police arriving at his residence in search of her, during which Bartley had denied any knowledge of her whereabouts.

The situation escalated when the girl disappeared again days later. During her subsequent statements, she described Bartley as her boyfriend and revealed that they did not use any form of contraception during their encounters. She also disclosed that Bartley had taken measures to hide her from authorities, including cutting out sections of the floorboards inside the cupboard to conceal her presence. This act of hiding her was reportedly a precaution he took whenever he suspected police might arrive at his home.

The case took a darker turn when police were alerted after the girl received two threatening text messages from Bartley. One of these messages explicitly threatened to rape her. Despite the threats, the girl later met with Bartley again, and the two engaged in sexual activity at his house. Their relationship continued beyond the confines of his home, as they later traveled to Kennington Park, where they engaged in sexual acts in the woods.

Following his conviction, Bartley was not only sentenced to prison but was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years. The case has left the local community in shock, highlighting the serious issues surrounding the exploitation of minors and the importance of vigilant law enforcement to protect vulnerable individuals from such predatory behavior.