This is Kent --
A SEX offender jailed for raping a schoolgirl may have claimed other victims who are too afraid to come forward, police fear.
Royce Mackett, originally from Lydd, was sentenced to 14 years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court last Friday, for raping a girl when she was aged 12, and for two offences of indecently assaulting her four years earlier.
Mackett, 53, had racked up more than 20 criminal convictions since he was a teenager, graduating from car crime to a prison sentence in 2007 for threatening to break his wife's neck, after she left him and fled to Wales with their three children.
He faced charges connected to only one victim at his trial in January, but detectives who spent months investigating his vile crimes fear there are more to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Pritchard, of Kent Police's public protection unit, said: "Our officers are trained to investigate cases such as these which can be complex and difficult due to the period of time that has elapsed between the offences being committed and reported to the police.
"But however long that period, we will fully investigate any reports of abuse as well as support a victim through a very difficult period in her or his life."
He praised Mackett's victim – now a 26-year-old woman – who was raped and abused by him at his then home in Seabrook in the mid-1990s.
"I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and determination of the victim, firstly in coming forward to talk about the horrific abuse she had suffered as a child and also for the courage with which she has faced a trial lasting four weeks," Mr Pritchard added.
Mackett had been trusted enough to babysit for the girl and her siblings, but when the other children were asleep, he took her into a bedroom, assaulted her and forced her to give him oral sex. Four years later he raped her.
"He told me not to tell other people about it because they would only be jealous.
"I was frightened of him and didn't tell anybody because I thought they wouldn't believe me," she said.
Despite protestations of innocence, Mackett was found guilty of all three offences and was jailed. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for the rest of his life.
Passing sentence, Judge Adele Williams told him he had been convicted on "clear and compelling evidence of sexual offences".
"You have absolutely no insight into your behaviour," she said.
"You have shown no remorse or have any regard for your victim. I have no doubt that you pose a risk to the public in the future."
Victim's account, see page 7 Reported by This is 1 day ago.
A SEX offender jailed for raping a schoolgirl may have claimed other victims who are too afraid to come forward, police fear.
Royce Mackett, originally from Lydd, was sentenced to 14 years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court last Friday, for raping a girl when she was aged 12, and for two offences of indecently assaulting her four years earlier.
Mackett, 53, had racked up more than 20 criminal convictions since he was a teenager, graduating from car crime to a prison sentence in 2007 for threatening to break his wife's neck, after she left him and fled to Wales with their three children.
He faced charges connected to only one victim at his trial in January, but detectives who spent months investigating his vile crimes fear there are more to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Pritchard, of Kent Police's public protection unit, said: "Our officers are trained to investigate cases such as these which can be complex and difficult due to the period of time that has elapsed between the offences being committed and reported to the police.
"But however long that period, we will fully investigate any reports of abuse as well as support a victim through a very difficult period in her or his life."
He praised Mackett's victim – now a 26-year-old woman – who was raped and abused by him at his then home in Seabrook in the mid-1990s.
"I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and determination of the victim, firstly in coming forward to talk about the horrific abuse she had suffered as a child and also for the courage with which she has faced a trial lasting four weeks," Mr Pritchard added.
Mackett had been trusted enough to babysit for the girl and her siblings, but when the other children were asleep, he took her into a bedroom, assaulted her and forced her to give him oral sex. Four years later he raped her.
"He told me not to tell other people about it because they would only be jealous.
"I was frightened of him and didn't tell anybody because I thought they wouldn't believe me," she said.
Despite protestations of innocence, Mackett was found guilty of all three offences and was jailed. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for the rest of his life.
Passing sentence, Judge Adele Williams told him he had been convicted on "clear and compelling evidence of sexual offences".
"You have absolutely no insight into your behaviour," she said.
"You have shown no remorse or have any regard for your victim. I have no doubt that you pose a risk to the public in the future."
Victim's account, see page 7 Reported by This is 1 day ago.