Horsham man jailed for child sex offences including rape
He started abusing his victim when she was just four years old
A man from Horsham has been jailed for more than 20 years for child sex offences including rape.
58 year old Keith Clifton of Tanyard Close began abusing his victim when she was four years old, starting with sexualised behaviour and assaults.
On her fifth birthday, he began raping her, continuing regularly until she was around 13.
The now-adult victim approached Sussex Police in 2018, leading to Clifton's arrest at his home.
Following an investigation, Clifton faced multiple charges including six counts of rape of a girl under 13, among others.
After a two-week trial at Hove Trial Centre on 23rd January, Clifton was convicted on several charges, although some resulted in a hung jury.
He was sentenced on 23rd February at the same court.
Detective Sergeant Ellen Jones said the sentence reflects the harm caused, acknowledging the victim's courage and the diligent work of the officers involved:
“While he will now spend a significant portion of his life behind bars, the trauma this courageous woman must live with is nothing short of a life sentence. The strength she has shown to support this investigation cannot be overstated, reading out her own victim impact statement in court to say she feels ‘she has her life back’.
“I also commend the investigating officer for their diligence in a complex, distressing investigation that has resulted in a successful outcome and another dangerous offender off the streets of Sussex.
“If you are a victim of sexual offending, no matter how long ago, please report it to us. We will do all we can to get you the justice you deserve.”