Family members sentenced for abusing two girls in Sussex

Six defendants have been sentenced for 39 offences including rape, sexual assault, child cruelty and perverting the course of justice against two girls in their family in West Sussex.

Both victims, who have a legal right to anonymity and who must not be identified, have received ongoing support from specially trained officers and partner agencies.

The first victim disclosed the abuse she had suffered from her family to a member of staff at her school in January 2025.

She described examples of rape and serious sexual assault by her father, grandfather and her two brothers, and child cruelty by her mother.

Her younger sister later reported being assaulted and neglected by her parents.

After the initial disclosure was made by the first victim, the wider family mounted an unsuccessful effort to bully the victims into withdrawing their evidence.

The six family members were subsequently charged with a total of 42 offences.

Following a trial at Hove Crown Court which started on 15 September, they were found guilty of 39 of 42 charges. They all appeared for sentencing at Hove Crown Court on Friday, 6 February.

To protect the victims’ identities, Sussex Police has not identified the defendants by name, but instead by their relationship

Sussex Police can confirm that the father, aged 44, was convicted of five counts of rape of a child under 13, one count of sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13, three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of cruelty to a person under 16. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison, with an additional five years added to his licence as part of an extended sentence.

The mother, aged 43, was convicted of four counts of cruelty to a person under 16, two counts of false imprisonment, and one count of perverting the course of justice. She was sentenced to ten and a half years.

The grandfather, aged 70, was convicted of one count of sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13, and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13. He was sentenced to nine years, with an additional year added to his licence period as part of an extended sentence.

Brother, aged 24, was convicted of four counts of rape of a child under 13, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had an additional three and a half years added to an existing sentence being served.

Brother, aged 21, was convicted of four counts of rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison.

Uncle, aged 49, was convicted of one count of perverting the course of justice. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Harbour said: “This has been a complex, distressing investigation that has had a profound and ongoing impact on the two young victims.

"Throughout, our priority has been, alongside our partners, the safety of these two girls. I would like to thank them both for the courage and strength they have shown in supporting the investigation.

“This case has involved harrowing details of how the defendants abused the trust of both young victims. Their home should have been a place of love and support, but was in fact a place the victims feared.

“The defendants preyed on that fear and hoped it would silence them. But the victims’ voices have been heard.

“Our officers have been determined to get justice in this case, and we are pleased that the court has imposed significant custodial sentences to reflect the seriousness of the crimes.

“I hope this case highlights Sussex Polices commitment to bringing such offenders to justice, if you are or know someone suffering abuse please do report it.

“We urge the public not to speculate about the case online as this may jeopardise the victims’ legal right to anonymity.”

Further help and support for victims of rape and serious sexual offences is available on the Sussex Police website and Safe:Space Sussex website.

More information about how Sussex Police investigates reports of rape and serious sexual offences is available online here.