Family Found Guilty of Rape and Child Cruelty After Shocking Trial

A family from West Sussex has been found guilty of a string of disturbing child sex offences after a lengthy trial at Hove Crown Court.

Six members of the same family were convicted of abusing two young sisters over several years, in a case that police have described as one of the most distressing they’ve ever dealt with. Because of strict laws protecting the identity of sexual assault victims, none of the defendants can be named.

The horrific abuse came to light after one of the sisters bravely confided in a member of school staff, sparking an extensive police investigation. What followed was a complex and emotional case involving serious allegations of rape, sexual assault, and child cruelty. The court heard that the girls suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their own relatives — including their parents, grandfather, and brothers.

After weeks of evidence, the jury found all six defendants guilty of 39 separate charges ranging from rape and sexual assault to cruelty and perverting the course of justice. The father, aged 43, was convicted of multiple counts of rape of a child under 13, sexual assault, and child cruelty. The mother, also 43, was found guilty of cruelty, false imprisonment, and attempting to cover up the abuse. The 70-year-old grandfather was convicted of sexual assault and assault by penetration. Two brothers, aged 20 and 23, were also found guilty of raping and assaulting their sister when they were teenagers. A 49-year-old uncle was convicted of perverting the course of justice.

All six have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced next year.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Harbour, who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the two young victims, saying their courage in coming forward and telling their story was remarkable. He described the case as one of the most serious and complex child abuse investigations the force has ever undertaken, and urged the public not to speculate about the identities of those involved to protect the victims’ anonymity.

Police said the verdict offers some measure of justice for the sisters, whose resilience and determination helped bring their abusers to court. The force also reminded anyone who suspects a child is being mistreated to report it immediately, stressing that speaking up can save lives.