KIERAN TAYLOR'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN TILGATE PARK AND NEIGHBORHOOD

In a case that has shocked the community of Tilgate, Kieran Taylor, an 18-year-old resident of Holbein Road, faced serious criminal charges related to both animal cruelty and disturbing sexual offenses involving underage girls. The incidents, which spanned over a year, culminated in a court hearing at Hove Crown Court where Taylor was sentenced on January 8, 2016.

According to court proceedings, Taylor was found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with three girls aged 13 and 14, between November 2013 and August 2014. The details of these offenses revealed a pattern of coercion and persistent pressure exerted by Taylor on the victims, who were significantly younger than him. One of the girls recounted that she was at Taylor’s home playing Xbox when their interaction escalated to kissing, and Taylor suggested they have sex. She expressed her discomfort, feeling pressured into the act, and when she asked him to stop, he complied. This girl’s victim impact statement highlighted the emotional toll the experience had taken on her, affecting her confidence, causing illness, and straining her relationships with friends.

The second girl’s account was equally disturbing. She was encouraged by Taylor to obtain alcohol, and while intoxicated, he inappropriately touched her by putting his hand down her leggings. She described the encounter as confusing and unexpected, and later, Taylor bombarded her with text messages. She only agreed to meet him again when he claimed other mutual friends would be present, but upon her arrival, Taylor was alone. He took her to nearby woods, where he persistently demanded sex, treating her as if she was his property. On another occasion, Taylor was involved in an incident at a house where, while others were asleep or out of the room, he pulled down her leggings. The third victim also received sexually explicit messages from Taylor and was coerced into sending explicit pictures.

In addition to these sexual offenses, Taylor was involved in a heinous act of animal cruelty. On October 2, 2014, the day after the girls had spoken to police about the sexual offenses, a staff member at Tilgate Nature Centre discovered a male Boreray sheep burning in the Heather Garden within Tilgate Park. The animal had been subjected to multiple injuries, including stabbing, kicking, and hitting, before being set ablaze. The sheep was part of a group kept in a paddock at the nature center. Bloodstains and evidence of injuries, such as an 8cm wound to the neck, a 5 to 7cm cut to the jaw, and impact wounds to the chest, were found on the remains. Witnesses reported seeing Taylor entering the sheep’s enclosure, chasing the animal, and making comments about harming it. He was observed going into the paddock and assaulting the sheep multiple times, actions that he later admitted to, although he claimed he was not involved in the initial physical attack before setting the animal on fire. Taylor also sent a photograph of his bloodied trainers to a friend who was present during part of the incident.

Defense lawyer Iain Morley argued that Taylor was not a predatory individual and highlighted his mental health struggles, including diagnoses of major depression, severe anxiety, panic attacks, alcohol dependency, and symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder. Morley emphasized that Taylor’s behavior was influenced by these issues and that he had been through a difficult period, which had led him to withdraw from social life, only leaving his house to see his mother. The lawyer described Taylor’s actions as disturbing but not indicative of a predatory nature, suggesting that the pressure he exerted on the girls was not as severe as rape and that the arson was an impulsive attempt to destroy evidence after learning about the police investigation.

Judge David Rennie, in delivering the sentence, acknowledged the seriousness of Taylor’s actions but also recognized the mental health issues that may have contributed. He sentenced Taylor to 11 months in prison, suspended for two years, for the sexual offenses, and an additional four months for animal cruelty. The judge emphasized that Taylor’s crimes, particularly the sexual offenses, crossed the threshold for custody but chose to give him a chance for rehabilitation instead of immediate imprisonment. He warned Taylor that any breach of the conditions would result in a return to prison.

As part of the sentence, Taylor was ordered to undergo mental health treatment, including behavior therapy, and was placed under supervision for two years. He must adhere to a four-month curfew from 9 pm to 6 am, abstain from alcohol, and was prohibited from working with animals. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed to restrict his future conduct. After hearing the sentence, Taylor stood in the dock and issued an apology for his actions, acknowledging the harm caused to his victims and the community of Tilgate.