Man, 43, jailed for child sex offences

A 43-year-old man who confessed to committing sex offences against a girl in the 1990s has been sent to prison.

Robert Elliot Edward Kennedy, previously of Northampton, was serving a sentence for similar offences in February 2022 when, during a conversation with a prison officer, he confessed to further historic offences that he had not yet been convicted of.

An investigation was launched by Northamptonshire Police which involved tracing the girl, who was now an adult living in a different part of the country, and speaking to her about what Kennedy had done. 

She bravely agreed to support the case and detailed how, for more than two years in the 1990s in Corby when she was under 10 years old, Kennedy had subjected her to numerous sexual assaults.

Kennedy was eventually charged with three counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency, all four of which he pleaded guilty to at Northampton Crown Court on October 24.

He returned to the same court this month (November 2) where he was sentenced to six years in prison with an extended sentenced of two years.

Lead investigator Detective Constable Ivan Bentley said: “I first of all want to pay tribute to the woman in this case who, as a result of this investigation, has had to relive the abuse she suffered as a child more than 20 years on.

“Her bravery in supporting the case is to be commended and I am really pleased that Kennedy has been sent back to prison.

“Reporting sexual abuse is never easy and I can’t stress that point enough. Whether it happened recently or in the past, we understand how difficult it is to talk to the police. However, I hope this case shows how seriously we take it and how determined we are to get justice.”

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, whether recent or non-recent, please come forward by calling 101 or via the online reporting tool at www.northants.police.uk.

We will believe you.

If you have been a victim of a sexual abuse but are not yet ready to speak to the police, please visit www.voicenorthants.org or call Voice on 0300 303 1965.

Voice is a support service for anyone living in Northamptonshire, regardless of when, where or how crime happened to you. Services are free, confidential and you don’t have to have reported anything to the police.

*This press release has been released with the support and agreement of the survivor*