Dartford: Rapist jailed for 26 years after decades of abuse

A man has been jailed for 26 years for a series of sexual assaults carried out against two children over the course of 30 years.

Steven Franklin, 71, from South Darenth in Kent, was found guilty of 12 offences, including indecent assault and five counts of rape.

He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday.

Kent Police said Franklin "persistently and repeatedly assaulted his victims in the most vile manner".

Franklin's offending went back to the 1970s, with one of his victims being targeted for more than a decade.

The police investigation into allegations by the first victim led to the discovery of the second, police said.

Det Cons James McClelland said: "He took advantage of two vulnerable young children, subjecting them to years of abuse, with absolutely no regard for their physical, mental, emotional, or psychological well-being.

"He has subsequently demonstrated zero remorse and refused to confess his wrongdoing, instead choosing to make them suffer a lengthy legal process, during which they've had to relive horrific incidents."

Det Cons James McClelland commended the bravery of the victims in reporting Franklin's "abhorrent" behaviour and said he hoped the lengthy jail term would offer some comfort.

Franklin will have to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole, and will spend an extra year on licence.