Man jailed after abusing girls 58 years ago

58 years ago, Charles Brown sexually abused several young girls.

The victims bravely reported Brown’s offences to Essex Police in 2019 and, on Friday 24 May, he was jailed for his offending.

Charles Brown, 76, of Hogarth Drive, Shoeburyness, appeared at Basildon Crown Court, where he was sentenced after he was convicted of indecent assaults against three young girls.

The sentencing concludes a five-year investigation by Essex Police’s Quest Team, who investigate sexual offence reports where the victim was a child at the time of the offence but is now an adult.

'Accounts from the victims crucial'

Sergeant Rachel Mitchell, officer in the case, said:

“We received a report in 2019 that Charles Brown had assaulted young girls between 1966 and 1994 on multiple occasions.
"With all Quest investigations, the first thing our detectives do is to get an account from the victim.
“We appreciate that this is traumatic for people, to go over events which they may have buried for years and not told anyone.
"However, often as there is no forensic evidence available, this account from the victim is crucial and builds the foundation for our investigation to continue.”

After these accounts were taken from the victims, Brown was arrested at his home address in Shoeburyness.

He refused to comment on all questions whilst in custody.

Detectives worked with the Crown Prosecution Service to charge Brown with eight counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16.

Following a week-long trial at Basildon Crown Court, Brown was found guilty of five counts on 14 November 2023.

The jury found him not guilty on three counts.

Sergeant Rachel Mitchell added:

“Brown’s conviction was as a direct result of the bravery of those survivors, who carried themselves with patience and dignity throughout a really challenging, long investigation.
“The survivors have received support from the moment of reporting from Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) from their areas. ISVAs have been able to provide emotional support and counselling to the victims.”

Brown was sentenced to 31 months and three weeks imprisonment on Friday 24 May. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

'He felt no shame for his actions'

In a victim impact statement, one of the survivors said:

“Charles Brown chose to touch and claw at my young, undeveloped body for his own gratification.
“He felt no shame, gave no consideration to the impact he would have on me and still chooses not to admit any guilt, as such further abusing me but not physically anymore, now mentally.
“I will never forgive him for making me doubt my own self-worth.
“Even as an adult woman, I was genuinely frightened of him. When I became a mother, I was consumed with fear when my little girl was not with me. Because of what happened to me, I viewed every man, who picked her up, leaned into her crib or looked at her as a threat to her safety.
“I wish I had been stronger sooner and not been so afraid, I carry guilt that if he did to anyone else what he did to me, then I could have saved them by reporting him. Rationally I know that he is to blame for his actions, despite his continual denial.
“He knows what he has done and he knows I am telling the truth. He has to live with his own demons as I continue to live with mine.
“If he had pleaded guilty in May last year, he could have saved us all further anguish, but instead he was and is content to continue our suffering, showing us no remorse for what he has done.”

Detective Superintendent Neil Pudney, Head of Investigations for Essex Police’s Crime and Public Protection command, said:

“The conviction of Charles Brown marked the most historic public protection investigation that we have secured a conviction for.
“The results achieved by our Quest team and other teams across our Crime and Public Protection Unit prove that we are not restricted by forensic opportunities and there is no time limit when it comes to investigating sexual offences.
“Our officers are more skilled than ever to investigate non-recent sexual offences and now a third of all reports we receive are non-recent.
“I’d encourage anyone who is a survivor of a sexual offence but may not have reported to anyone yet to get in touch with the police.
"If you’re not sure about an official investigation yet, our partner agencies within Synergy Essex can offer you support and provide answers to any questions.”

Essex Police’s Quest team investigates cases where the victim was a child at the time of the abuse but is now an adult.

Synergy Essex provides support and guidance for survivors of sexual and sexual abuse across Essex.

The Essex Rape Crisis Partnership is formed of three organisations:

• CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) who cover mid and north Essex.
• SERICC (Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service) who cover South and West Essex.
• SOS Rape Crisis who cover Southend, Castle Point and Rochford.

Survivors can self-refer and receive emotional support, specialist sexual violence and abuse counselling and or specialist advocacy services, no matter when the sexual violence or abuse occurred. In addition to this, they also offer support to survivor’s loved ones.

For more information about how to get support, visit the Synergy Essex website.

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