A pervert who raped the teenage daughter of a fami
A pervert who raped the teenage daughter of a family friend and bought her silence with bribes was jailed for nine years today.
(THURS)
For five years Peter Kennedy, 55, preyed on the schoolgirl during shopping trips and in every room of her house when they were left alone.
She described in court every sordid detail of her ordeal at the hands of the itinerant labourer from the age of 12.
On one occasion he forced her to perform sex acts in an underpass after accompanying her on a shopping trio to the local Spar in Plumstead, southeast London.
The girl, now in her 20s, finally told her mother in February last year how he would sexually abuse her and give her cash.
Kennedy was convicted by a jury of raping her twice between January 15, 1993, and January 17, 1996, and indecently assaulting her between January 1991 and January 1993.
The jury took three hours and 36 minutes to reach their unanimous verdicts.
The panel was formally directed to acquit Kennedy of further charges of indecency with a child and rape between January 1993 and January 1996.
Passing sentence Judge Martin Stephens, QC, told Kennedy he had committed ‘appalling acts of sexual abuse.
‘You have shown no remorse and that woman had to go through the dreadful ordeal of giving evidence to this court.
‘
He sentenced him to nine years imprisonment on each of the two counts of rape to run concurrently and four years concurrent for one indecent assault.
Prosecutor Miss Susan Tapping had told the jury Kennedy took every opportunity available to him to abuse the girl.
‘Usually when this happened she would have ten to fifteen pounds in cash tucked into her pocket.
He would say to her: “It’s our secret.
”
‘The money was used to try and ensure her silence.
‘
Kennedy, of no fixed abode, denied all the charges.
The court had heard he lived an itinerant lifestyle for the last ten years during which he found general building and factory work.
He picked up painter decorator skills in Borstal.
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