VINCENT JUAN PADDOCK WOOD SEX OFFENDER CLAIMS HE'S THE VICTIM AFTER SHOCKING SHOP ASSAULT

In October 2013, a disturbing incident unfolded in the town of Tunbridge Wells involving Vincent Juan, a 75-year-old resident of Bullfinch Close in Paddock Wood. Juan was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl with learning disabilities inside Martin’s newsagents, a popular local shop. The incident sparked widespread outrage and concern within the community.

According to eyewitness accounts, Juan became visibly aroused while standing in line behind the young girl. Witnesses reported that he engaged in inappropriate behavior, including grinding himself against her. The situation escalated to the point where Juan quickly fled the store after being confronted by a bystander who was shocked by his actions. The confrontation occurred in the aftermath of Juan’s inappropriate conduct, which was described as highly disturbing and unacceptable.

Following the incident, Juan was apprehended and brought before Sevenoaks magistrates. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was subsequently sentenced to a 28-day jail term, which was suspended for a period of one year. This legal arrangement allows Juan to remain free unless he commits another offence within the next 12 months. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender, a measure intended to monitor and prevent further misconduct.

The court heard that the teenage victim, who was under 16 at the time, had her confidence severely damaged by the assault. Her parents expressed their distress, revealing that she had become fearful of leaving the house and was now reluctant to interact with older men. The incident had a profound impact on her emotional well-being, undoing years of efforts to foster her independence and confidence.

In a shocking turn of events, following the court proceedings, Vincent Juan publicly claimed that he was the true victim of the incident. Speaking to the media, he dismissed the allegations, asserting that the incident had been exaggerated by the victim’s family. Juan stated, “It’s been grossly exaggerated. There was no grabbing or forcing, there were no words between us. And as for the lady walking out distressed, of course her mother will exaggerate the case and I can’t do a thing about it.”

He further claimed that the victim appeared untroubled when he left the shop, stating, “When I walked outside the shop she was sorting through her shopping. She didn’t look distressed. The lady could’ve walked away from me and that would’ve been it. Why did I do it? I don’t know. I’ve never done anything like this in my life, it’s all out of proportion. I do sympathise with her but I’m probably more the victim than the girl, in truth.”

Juan’s wife, Jo, aged 65, who is involved in charity work, expressed her devastation over the incident but affirmed her support for her husband of 40 years. Meanwhile, the girl’s parents described the incident as a significant setback for their daughter. They revealed that she now refuses to leave their side or speak to older men, a stark contrast to her previous efforts to build independence.

Her father expressed his disbelief at Juan’s claims, saying, “I’m not sure how to respond to what he’s saying – it’s a load of old rubbish. I’m absolutely speechless. Most members of the public would be horrified and disgusted at a girl in a supposedly safe town being sexually assaulted in a shop – in our case, it’s a much bigger deal with her lack of comprehension.”

The teenager’s mother added, “Maybe he’s saying that because he’s got to walk away from it – the independent witness didn’t seem to think it was being exaggerated. It was because of them and the shock of the Royal Victoria Place security people that we even knew about it.”

An eyewitness, whose statement was read aloud in court, described the disturbing behavior. The witness said, “I noticed he appeared to be grinding his body into the young girl’s hip and bottom area. He actually turned around and looked at me and then looked around – he appeared to be looking to see if anyone was watching him. At one stage, he seemed to have his hand in his pocket, and I think he was touching his penis. He started breathing heavily, even closing his eyes in enjoyment. I could see the girl was upset and was moving away. I think he was grinding against her quite hard and she was pushed forward.”

Following the court case, the victim’s parents shared their feelings with the media. They recounted sitting at a nearby Costa Coffee near Royal Victoria Place when they saw their daughter enter and exit the newsagent. When she returned, she appeared different but did not speak about the incident. It was only later, when the family was walking past the shop, that the parents learned of what had happened, after the store’s manager approached them.

A written statement from the victim’s father, read aloud in court, highlighted the emotional toll on their family. It stated, “We were at a stage where we could give her tasks in town to do. This has changed since the assault. She’s refused to talk about what’s happened to her. She won’t leave the house on her own. I’ve questioned if we were right to try and give her some independence. We feel like we’re starting again.”

In court, Robert Murray, defending Juan, argued that his client was unaware that the girl had a learning disability. As part of his sentence, Vincent Juan was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years, pay court costs of £85, and a victim surcharge of £80. The case has left the community in shock, raising questions about safety and the treatment of vulnerable individuals in the town of Paddock Wood.