FORMER SOLDIER JAILED FOR HORIFFIC CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN SOUTHEND
A former soldier with a history of sexual abuse committed acts of assault against an 11-year-old girl.He claimed that she had enticed him and desired sexual contact, a statement he made when confronted by her mother, to whom the girl had confided her ordeal.
An investigation by the police uncovered that he had taken indecent photographs of underage girls on 33 separate occasions over several years and had also downloaded an image depicting child rape from the internet.
He faced charges related to two young victims, one of whom was younger than the other.
Additionally, authorities found approximately 1,000 images on his phone showing humans involved in sexual acts with animals.
Duran Guscott, aged 38 and originally from Jamaica, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court to nearly 14 years in prison.
He will serve an extra three years and one month on extended licence, amounting to a total of 17 years behind bars.
Judge Samantha Cohen criticized Guscott for blaming the victims, calling his sexual interests 'extremely unpleasant' and underscoring that he alone was responsible for the harm caused.
It was noted that he showed no emotion during sentencing.
In his defense, his attorneys mentioned a troubled upbringing in Jamaica, abandonment by his mother, and military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, suggesting possible mental health issues influencing his behavior.
The judge, however, dismissed any connection between mental health and his criminal acts.
The young victims continue to suffer from mental health problems such as insomnia, nightmares, and fear of intimacy, with the judge stating these consequences stem entirely from Guscott’s choices to pursue his sexual urges regardless of the harm inflicted upon others.
