DOUGLAS ENGLISH SENTENCED IN HAVANT FOR CHILD ABUSE CASES

In December 2009, the case of Douglas English, a resident of Havant, drew significant public and official attention due to the severity of his crimes and the relatively lenient sentence he received. English, aged 53 and living on Swarraton Road in Havant, was convicted after a trial of abusing three children—two girls and one boy—over a period of time. The abuse involved not only sexual misconduct but also manipulative tactics, such as giving the children money or football cards to silence them and prevent disclosure of his actions.

Despite a long history of child abuse offenses dating back to 1979, English was sentenced to four years in prison. This sentence has been met with criticism from law enforcement officials and the victims' advocates, who argue that it does not adequately reflect the gravity of his crimes. The maximum penalty he could have faced was 14 years, but the court opted for a significantly shorter term.

Detective Constable Charlie Cox, from Waterlooville CID, expressed his disapproval of the sentencing guidelines that led to this outcome. He remarked, “I think the mother of one of the victims summed it up best when she said, ‘He only gets four years, my daughter has to cope for a lifetime.’” Cox emphasized the danger posed by English, describing him as a “dangerous offender,” and acknowledged the importance of the conviction for the victims’ sense of justice and closure. He also praised the bravery of the victims who came forward to testify against him.

English denied ten counts of child abuse and forced his victims to give evidence in court, which was a traumatic experience for them. One of the victims, who was abused at the age of eight, chose to speak publicly about her ordeal after reaching the age of 29. She was identified as xxxx and was among the three victims traced by police following her initial contact. In October, she publicly waived her right to anonymity to share her story with The News, describing her suffering and the courage it took to come forward.

At Portsmouth Crown Court, Judge Ian Pearson sentenced English to four years in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the need to protect the public from individuals like English, stating, “It’s necessary in my mind to protect the public from serious harm from you. Victims had to give evidence, which some of them found a very unpleasant experience.”

Following his conviction, English was placed on the sexual offenders’ register indefinitely. Additionally, he was issued a sexual prevention order that prohibits him from allowing any child into his home unaccompanied and from visiting addresses where children reside. These measures aim to prevent further harm and ensure community safety, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing concern for child protection in Havant and beyond.