JAMES DODD OF ASHFORD SENTENCED TO 123 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN KENT

In September 2017, James Dodd, a 36-year-old from Ashford, was sentenced for sexually abusing three young girls over a period of five years. During the court hearing at Canterbury Crown Court, the victims, some of whom attempted self-harm prior to the trial, courageously provided evidence despite their fears. The girls, visibly emotional, sat in the public gallery as Dodd received a 25-year extended sentence for his heinous crimes, which included some recorded attacks. The judge, Heather Norton, described the case as particularly appalling, noting that Dodd had targeted his victims with violence and threats.

Throughout the 40-minute hearing, the victims, one still experiencing flashbacks, were heard crying as their testimonies were read aloud. One victim’s statement, read by prosecutor Walton Hornsby, expressed her intense emotional distress: “It is extremely difficult to put into words everything that’s happened to me because I have a lot of flashbacks. I was extremely anxious about the court case because I knew that he (Dodd) would call me a liar. Two weeks ago, I felt that I couldn’t face it and I took an overdose and had to go to hospital after I was found unconscious. I felt shocked at myself that I had briefly felt that I wanted to end my life but at the time I really felt that I couldn’t come to court and go through being called a liar and having to re-live what happened. But I actually now feel brighter, better and calmer about the fact that I held my head high and told the truth in front of other people.”

Dodd, who appeared impassive during the proceedings, was also addressed by another victim, who said, “I feel even more hurt that (Dodd) has denied what he has done. I’d like him to own up so I can then get on with my life.” The court heard that Dodd had chosen his victims over a five-year span, attacking them with violence and threats, some of which involved filming the assaults.

The investigation was triggered when one victim, brave enough to come forward about her childhood abuse, led police to uncover two additional victims. The trauma was so severe that two of the girls harmed themselves and required hospital treatment, revealing their fears that speaking out might result in a lengthy sentence for Dodd. Judge Norton reassured them, saying, “They have nothing to feel guilty about. They were children!”

The judge handed down a total of 123 years’ imprisonment for 13 counts of rape and sexual abuse while declaring that all sentences would run concurrently with a 21-year immediate jail term. She also stated that Dodd would serve an additional four years on licence after his release. Dodd, who also denied downloading a vile sex image found on his phone, was convicted by the jury despite claiming to see himself as a victim. Judge Norton acknowledged that Dodd had filmed some of his attacks, although attempts to recover the related devices were unsuccessful.