Child molester jailed after 15 years of abuse

A man who raped and abused children in Kent for over 15 years has been jailed.

Grant Venamore first abused two children from Tunbridge Wells and Paddock Wood in the 1990s. One of the children was just four years old when the abuse began.

Venamore, now 48, of Stroud Road in South Norwood, London, denied any wrongdoing and the case came before Maidstone Crown Court.

He was unanimously found guilty on 11 counts of child sexual abuse and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Venamore was arrested in August 2020 when Kent Police first received reports of abuse.

He was found guilty:

• Four cases of indecent sexual abuse of a child under 14 years of age

• Two counts of inciting a child under 14 to commit a grossly indecent act

• Two cases of sodomy with a child under 16 years of age

• A case of rape of a child under 16 years of age

• Two counts of inciting a child under 16 to commit a grossly indecent act

Judge Philip Statman said in sentencing on Tuesday that Venamore was still a dangerous offender responsible for “persistent, violent sexual abuse.”

Venamore must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before parole can be considered.

In this case, he must expect an extended probation period of three years and must obtain an indefinite order to prevent sexual violence.

Det Con Tania Muller, of the West Kent Child Protection Team, said: “Venamore repeatedly subjected his young victims to depraved and abhorrent abuse, causing untold harm to their young lives.”

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