KEVIN BUCHANAN GORING PAEDOPHILE TEACHER SENTENCED IN BERKSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Kevin Buchanan, a 46-year-old man originally from Goring, has been convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault involving young girls. The offences took place over a span of several years and involved vulnerable victims who were all under the age of 14 at the time of the incidents.

Kevin Buchanan, who at the time of his crimes was employed part-time at Thames Valley University, engaged in a series of inappropriate and criminal acts against three young girls. The court heard that his misconduct included licking their necks, stroking their legs, and touching them inappropriately. These acts occurred during different periods, specifically between March 1, 2002, and May 1, 2002; September 1, 2003, and December 1, 2003; and January 21, 2003, and January 21, 2004. Additionally, Buchanan was convicted of inciting one of his victims to perform a gross indecency, an offence that spanned from January 21, 2001, to January 21, 2004.

The court proceedings revealed that Buchanan, a father of two, exploited his position of trust on four separate occasions. One particularly disturbing incident involved Buchanan instructing one of the young girls to remove her trousers so he could see her thong, a clear indication of his predatory behavior. The jury found him guilty on four counts of indecent assault, and he was sentenced on Monday at Reading Crown Court.

During the sentencing hearing, Buchanan’s defense lawyer, Frank O’Toole, argued that the offences were not prolonged and emphasized the devastating impact the case had on Buchanan’s life. O’Toole stated that Buchanan had lost his respect, his employment, and his home, and that he had been forced to relocate from his previous residence. Despite these arguments, Judge Stephen John was unpersuaded. The judge sentenced Buchanan to a total of 30 months in prison, with concurrent sentences of 12 months for licking, biting, and touching the girls’ legs, 18 months for encouraging a girl to remove her trousers, and 30 months for touching a girl under her jeans.

Judge John made it clear that Buchanan’s breach of trust was a serious matter, especially given his role as a trusted adult. He remarked, “They were under your trust and you breached that trust – yet you continue to maintain your innocence. You are in denial and I have no doubt that you will continue to fool yourself and others about your behaviour.”

As part of his sentence, Buchanan was disqualified from working with children and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. Following his conviction, Buchanan was also scheduled to face trial on six counts of making indecent images of children. However, the jury was dismissed in relation to this particular charge, leaving that case unresolved for the time being.

Kevin Buchanan’s case has left a lasting scar on the community of Goring and the surrounding areas in Berkshire, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding against those who abuse positions of trust to commit such heinous acts.