Brighton man jailed for 14 years for child abuse

A Brighton man was jailed today for 14 years for a series of rapes and sexual assaults over a 15-year period.

Sidney Thorpe, 76, who had moved to Newhaven, carried out the attacks between 1965 and 1980.

A jury at Lewes Crown Court found him guilty of ten counts of rape, eight counts of indecent assault, one count of gross indecency and three counts of child cruelty.

Today (Wednesday 23 March)

His victims, all now grown up, were two girls and a boy aged between 4 and 16 at the time of the offences.

Detective Inspector Rachel Bacon said: “This sentencing of Thorpe brings to an end a protracted and complex police inquiry which started two years ago when the victims contacted us.

“We hope that the outcome will go some way to assist the victims to reconcile what they endured as children.

“Instead of having happy childhoods, their innocence was taken away from them in the cruellest of fashions, about which they blamed themselves for many years.

“Sussex Police will continue to investigate all cases of child abuse, regardless of how long ago the offences occurred and will always be tenacious in our efforts bring the perpetrators to justice.”