Coggeshall: Detective praises bravery of victim after abuser jailed for 10 years

A specialist detective who supported and protected a young victim of sexual abuse have praised her courage after her attacker was jailed for more than ten years.

Officers and staff with our North Child Abuse Investigation Team led a detailed investigation into 40-year-old Joshua King’s offending.

King, of West Street, Coggeshall, was found to have sexually assaulted a child under the age of 13 earlier this year.

After his arrest, he admitted sexual assault of a child aged under 13 and two counts of assaulting a child aged under 13 by penetration.

Judge Christopher Morgan, sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 26 October, told King he had committed “serious offences in any circumstances”.

He said King would have been well aware of her young age and simply took advantage of her.

In a statement read to the court, King’s victim spoke of the lasting impact of the abuse on her social life and mental health.

Lasting impact

She said:

“I have been worrying about court and for the last two weeks I have not slept well.
“I am really upset and I have been upset for a long time.”

King was sentenced to ten-and-a-half years’ imprisonment and will serve a further year on license upon his release.

He will remain subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a five-year restraining order and will be barred from ever working with children.

We are there for victims throughout the process

Detective Constable Francine Gilman, officer in the case, said:

“It took enormous strength and courage, far beyond the victim’s years, to reach this point in this case.
“She has shown inspiring bravery throughout a difficult process.
“Our specialist child abuse investigation teams are there for victims throughout an investigation, from that initial point of contact, right through the court case and beyond.
“Anyone who has suffered similar abuse must never feel like they have nowhere to turn.
“You will be heard, you will be listened to, you are not alone.
“King’s sexual abuse of a young girl was rightly recognised as serious offending.
"He will spend a lengthy term behind bars and stringent conditions mean when he is released, he will be tightly monitored.”

Synergy Essex offers independent and specialised services for individuals who have experienced rape or sexual abuse in Essex.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of three services; Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (CARA), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis).

The services provided by Synergy Essex are independent of the police. This ensures individuals can seek help whether they choose to report the incident or not. This could be in relation to something that happened recently or in the past.

Survivors and victims can access support by reaching out on their own or through a referral from someone they trust. This could be a family member, friend, or professional.

At Synergy Essex, people of all ages can benefit from specialised emotional support. This includes counselling and advocacy.

For those pursuing legal action, they offer the help of an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA). The advisers can guide and support them through the criminal justice process.

To learn more about the services available, please visit the Synergy Essex website.