WILLIAM ROWE AND SHOCKING CHILD RAPE IN DARTFORD AND MAIDSTONE

A man named William Rowe has been sentenced to ten years in prison after a court found him guilty of multiple serious sexual offences committed against a young girl over two decades ago in Dartford.

William Rowe, aged 60 and residing on Queens Road in Dartford, vehemently denied all charges brought against him, which included three counts of rape, four counts of indecent assault, and one count of indecency with a child. Despite his denials, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court convicted him of all offences except one count of indecent assault.

The sexual offences in question had remained undisclosed for many years and only came to light after the victim was contacted by Rowe’s brother, Lewis Rowe, through Facebook. Her revelations prompted police investigation, leading to William Rowe’s arrest and subsequent trial. This was not his first courtroom appearance over these allegations; it marked the third trial where he faced these charges. Previously, a jury failed to reach a verdict in the initial trial, and the second trial was aborted due to legal complications, necessitating this third attempt.

Throughout the legal process, the victim was compelled to recount her traumatic experiences on more than one occasion in court. Her testimony was supported by evidence and statements that detailed the horror she endured as a child, which has profoundly impacted her mental health. Added complexity was introduced into the trial by the involvement of Lewis Rowe, aged 49, of Bryant Road, Strood, who was also in the dock charged with one count of indecent assault against the same victim. Lewis denied the charge and was acquitted by the jury.

In his sentencing, Judge Martin Joy described the offences committed by William Rowe as "brutal" and characterized them as a clear example of the devastating effects of child sexual abuse. The judge pointed out the long-lasting trauma inflicted upon the victim, stating that she had endured over 20 years of emotional and psychological distress because of the abuse. According to Judge Joy, the abuse resulted in serious mental health challenges, including depression, significant distress, and profound loneliness. The judge emphasized that the victim's ability to function normally as a young woman was severely hindered by the lasting effects of these crimes.

William Rowe’s sentence will see him serve half of the ten-year term, with a deduction of 64 days spent on remand awaiting trial. Furthermore, he will be subject to a tagged curfew upon release. As part of his ongoing sentence conditions, he is also required to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

The court heard during the trial that the victim reported the abuse after discovering that William Rowe’s brother, Lewis, had contacted her via Facebook. She recounted her shock upon receiving a message from Lewis that read: "You are all grown up now. You have turned into a beautiful young lady." This message served as a trigger, causing her to relive traumatic memories and become highly distressed. The victim confided in her boyfriend, revealing that Lewis’s message triggered the re-emergence of her past trauma.

Prosecutor Michael Riley described how the victim was overwhelmed by the message, which led her to disclose the abuse she suffered at William Rowe’s hands. She accused William of raping her and assaulting her on multiple occasions, while also claiming that Lewis Rowe behaved indecently towards her on at least one occasion.

The court details revealed that William Rowe’s abuse began following a tragic family tragedy—his wife Elaine and their two daughters, Sarah and Vicky, were killed in a fire aboard a houseboat in Hoo Marina on Boxing Day of 1988. The prosecution outlined that Rowe’s first offence involved telling the girl to lie on top of him and then making her touch his genitals. It was further alleged that he engaged in intercourse with her during this incident. On another occasion, he took the girl into a cellar, laid her on a workbench, and had sex with her. The prosecution claimed that he raped her on a third occasion and forced her to perform sex acts on him.

During one incident in his car, Rowe allegedly told the girl to keep the abuse secret, warning her that no one would believe her and that both of them could get into trouble if she told anyone. When police arrested William Rowe and Lewis Rowe, both initially denied the allegations, maintaining their innocence.

This case underscores the long-lasting damage inflicted by child sexual abuse and highlights the importance of vigilant reporting and judicial action to protect victims and hold offenders accountable.