REUBEN FRANKUM FROM CUMNOR SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE IN OXFORD

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Cumnor and the wider Oxford area, Reuben Frankum, aged 37, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving a young girl. The offences, which took place between January 2013 and January 2014, included three counts of raping a child under the age of 13 and two counts of causing or inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

Frankum appeared in Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, showing no visible emotion as the judge delivered the sentence. The court heard detailed accounts of the abuse, which left the victim, a girl who cannot be named for legal reasons, deeply traumatized. During the proceedings, a statement read out by the prosecution barrister, Allan Mainds, conveyed the victim’s fears and emotional distress. She expressed her ongoing fear that Frankum would track her and her family down, stating, “I feel scared of Reuben. I feel scared that he is going to find us. I feel scared of what he would do. Towards Reuben I feel scared, angry and upset.”

Throughout the trial, the court was also informed of the victim’s psychological state and her feelings of vulnerability. The case drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of the crimes and the defendant’s subsequent attempt to manipulate the victim’s account. Frankum, who resides on Robsart Place in Cumnor, maintained his innocence despite the conviction. His defense lawyer, Alexandra Bull, described him as a hardworking individual who had been employed as a road worker and laborer since leaving school in his mid-teens. She emphasized that Frankum had no prior criminal record apart from a single conviction for drink driving and had never served time in prison.

Ms. Bull also pointed out that police investigations into Frankum’s electronic devices revealed no indecent images of children, suggesting that he did not possess such material. She argued that Frankum had some insight into the impact of abuse on a child, although this did not mitigate his criminal actions.

Judge Maria Lamb, presiding over the case, highlighted the severity of the crimes and the risk Frankum posed to the public. She described him as presenting a ‘significant risk of serious harm’ and noted that the most recent incident caused the victim considerable pain. The judge detailed how Frankum continued to assault the girl despite her pleas for him to stop and threatened to kill her mother if she disclosed the abuse. A particularly disturbing aspect of the case was Frankum’s attempt to influence the victim’s testimony. The court was told that he went to great lengths to prevent the allegations from coming to light, including convincing the girl to claim that her accusations were fabricated based on the book ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’

In sentencing, Judge Lamb stated that Frankum would serve at least two-thirds of his sentence in custody, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need to protect the community from further harm. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Cumnor and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.