Ramsgate Man Jailed for 21 Years Over Historic Child Sexual Abuse

A Ramsgate man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being convicted of multiple historic child sexual abuse offences, committed more than two decades ago against three young girls.

John Sladden, 72, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 3rd July 2026 following a four-week trial. A jury found him guilty of 11 child sexual offences after hearing evidence relating to abuse that took place between the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In March 2024 after two victims independently reported the abuse by Sladden, Kent Police launched an investigation. During the inquiry, a third victim came forward with similar allegations, enabling detectives to build a strong evidential case despite the significant passage of time.

Following sentencing, Detective Constable Susan Kingsnorth commended the victims for their courage in reporting the offences. She described the investigation as a complex and lengthy inquiry involving multiple victims and highlighted the commitment of specialist officers to securing justice in historic abuse cases.

The case underlines the continuing importance of investigating non-recent sexual offences, demonstrating that successful prosecutions remain possible even decades after the crimes occurred. Police hope the outcome will encourage other survivors of sexual abuse to report offences, regardless of when they happened.

Kent Police has reiterated that victims of sexual offences will be treated with sensitivity and respect and urged anyone who has experienced abuse to come forward. The force says specialist officers are available to support victims throughout the investigative process.

The sentencing of Sladden brings a significant case to a close, while reinforcing the message that perpetrators of child sexual abuse can still be held accountable years after offending. 

The case further highlights the ongoing work of police in pursuing historic abuse investigations and the crucial role played by survivors whose testimony enables offenders to be brought before the courts.