Jimmy Draper – Gillingham/Robertsbridge

August 2013

Child rapist jailed for 16 years

A SEX fiend who raped a girl from Robertsbridge has been jailed for 16 years.

Unemployed Jimmy Draper, 36, from Gillingham, Kent, was found guilty after an 11-day trial at Lewes Crown Court.

He faced two counts of rape, one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The offences relate to a girl from Robertsbridge who at the time of the abuse in 2004 and 2005 was just 14 years old.

The offences were reported to police in March last year and a full investigation was launched, leading to Draper’s arrest that November.

Sentencing Draper, Judge Kemp said: “You violated her for your own sexual gratification. For these horrible brutal offences you have to pay the price.”

Investigating officer Det Con Carol Shoesmith said: “He was a controlling individual who had total disregard for the devastating effect his abuse had on his victim, who had to live for years with the emotional and mental pain as she was too frightened to tell anyone.

“I hope his long prison sentence will go some way in helping her to get on with her life knowing that justice has been served.”

She also urged other victims of sexual abuse to come forward so the criminals can be brought to justice.