DAVE LENNON FROM HOVE SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN LEWES

In a significant case that has resonated throughout the community of Hove, a man named David Lennon has been handed a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted of serious historic sexual offences involving a young child. The conviction was announced on January 4th at Lewes Crown Court, following a detailed trial that uncovered disturbing details about the offences committed nearly two decades ago.

David Lennon, aged 55 and residing at Lovegrove Court in Hove, faced charges that stemmed from incidents that took place between May 31st and September 1st, 1999. The jury found him guilty of five counts of indecent assault, which involved a five-year-old girl. The court's decision reflected the gravity of the offences, with Lennon receiving a seven-year sentence for the most serious charges. Additionally, he was sentenced to four years for each of the other counts, with these terms to run concurrently, effectively ensuring a substantial period of incarceration.

As part of his punishment, Lennon will be registered on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his activities post-release. Furthermore, he has been issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which explicitly prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. These legal measures aim to protect the community and prevent any potential future harm.

The investigation into this case was led by Detective Constable Holly Hallahan, who is part of the Brighton and Hove Child Protection Team. She expressed her relief and satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “The defendant was supposed to be supervising while the victim had contact with her father — instead, he sexually abused her, grossly abusing his position of trust and irreparably damaging a little girl.”

DC Hallahan emphasized the importance of reporting child abuse, regardless of how much time has passed, saying, “This sentencing is a fantastic result for the victim and her family, and goes some way to easing the pain of the past. I hope that this case encourages anyone else who has suffered child abuse — no matter how long ago it happened — to report it to police. Every allegation is fully investigated and, as this case shows, justice can be achieved many years later.”

The victim’s mother also shared her thoughts, expressing gratitude for the support received during the investigation. She stated, “We would like to thank DC Hallahan for all her care and support throughout this investigation. We urge anyone who has suffered from heinous crimes of this type to come forward, whether the abuse is current or historic, so that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice.”