Pervert cleared of child rape (From Worcester News)
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Pervert cleared of child rape
3:00pm Monday 3rd September 2012 in News
Pervert cleared of child rape
A former Upton-on-Severn man has been cleared on two charges of raping a Malvern schoolgirl but been convicted on several other charges of sexual activity with her.
A jury at Worcester Crown Court was out for more than six hours before returning verdicts on 30-year-old David Kember, formerly of Rectory Road, Upton, and now living in Lindhurst Avenue, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire.
He was found not guilty on two charges of rape and one of indecent assault. But he was convicted by majority verdicts on charges of sexual activity with a child and of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The jury failed to reach a verdict on charges of indecent assault, assault by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13 and sexual activity with a child. He was remanded in custody for the case to be reviewed by the prosecution and will be brought before the court again on September 24.
Prosecutor Jonas Hankin alleged that Kember groomed the girl, from Malvern, over a number of years by telling her he loved her. He gave her presents and at one stage was in a consensual relationship.
But Kember told the court he never abused her and his friendship was for moral support because her life was in turmoil through family problems. He had never talked of marriage and his presents were to cheer her up.
He denied making suicide threats after the teenager said she wanted to end their relationship.
His counsel, Abigail Nixon, alleged that the girl had invented complaints in a bid to get back with her family.
Comments(3)
GroovyChick
says...
12:07pm Tue 4 Sep 12
murray kelso
says...
12:33pm Tue 4 Sep 12
More Tea Vicar wrote:I don't normally comment in a conversational manner in these columns, but I can't let this one go by unanswered.
A terrible story, and it is good to see the culprit punished. It's hard to imagine the girl getting over this, but let's hope she gets the support she needs.
But may I suggest the WN reflect on whether using the word 'pervert' is such a good idea.
What this man did is horrible enough, and there is no need to use emotive terms to underline that fact.
This is not just a question of political correctness. This man and people like him belong in prison, but at some stage, they get released back into the community, like any other criminal.
At that stage, violence against them, in some cases lethal, is not uncommon. The WN does not use equivalent language about people who, say, cause death by dangerous driving, after all.
Are you seriously suggesting that I should have considered this man's future before writing the headline?
Please tell me you're kidding.
MK - Digital Editor
More Tea Vicar says...
5:01pm Mon 3 Sep 12
But may I suggest the WN reflect on whether using the word 'pervert' is such a good idea.
What this man did is horrible enough, and there is no need to use emotive terms to underline that fact.
This is not just a question of political correctness. This man and people like him belong in prison, but at some stage, they get released back into the community, like any other criminal.
At that stage, violence against them, in some cases lethal, is not uncommon. The WN does not use equivalent language about people who, say, cause death by dangerous driving, after all.