The furious father of a teenage girl raped in a park by two men says their “joke” prison sentence has further punished his family.
Frankie Smith and Leonard Wilson, both 24, subjected their victim to a horrific sexual attack in a Cranbrook park in 2018.
In a case plagued with delays, a Maidstone Crown Court judge handed Smith, of Bethersden, three years and nine months behind bars.
Wilson, of High Halden, was locked up for three years and six months at the same court.
Judge Julian Smith cited the young ages of Smith, who was 18, and Wilson who was 17 at the time of the attack, as a reason for reduced sentences.
But the victim’s father, who must remain anonymous, told KentOnline he feels the justice system has let down his family.
He said: “As the father of the victim I think it’s an absolutely disgustingly low sentence.
“An absolute joke.
“It has made us as a family feel like the judge has punished us and rewarded them.”
Both men denied rape but were convicted following a trial last July, where jurors heard the disturbing facts of the case.
Smith, of Pluckley Road, was cleared of a second count of rape, alongside an allegation of sexual assault.
Wilson, of Plurenden Road, was cleared of two counts of possessing indecent images of a child, and three counts of possessing an extreme pornographic image.
Sentencing on April 9, Judge Smith said the delay of five years and eight months since the crime – during which time two trials fell through, has had an impact on everyone involved.
He said: “There has been inevitable harm caused by the delay. Harm for both parties.”
The judge also said both men had been held on remand for nine months and were of previous good character.
Last year’s trial heard how the victim met the offenders in a remote rural location where she was dragged from a vehicle with such force, she bumped her head before she was raped by both men.
Smith and Wilson subsequently intimidated the girl and made threats to harm her family to prevent her from reporting the incident to the police.
Speaking after sentencing, detective Kim Bashford, of Kent Police’s West Division CID said: “Smith and Wilson not only subjected their victim to a harrowing sexual assault but used fear to prevent her from reporting the incident to the police. As a result, the girl was forced to withstand a lengthy investigation and trial, during which she had to repeatedly relive the traumatic events of that night.
“A custodial sentence for such an abhorrent crime is just, regardless of Smith and Wilson’s ages at the time. We would like to thank the victim for her admirable courage in working with us to secure a jail term for the offenders.
“Kent Police takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and is committed to investigating thoroughly, while operating with discretion and sensitivity. It is never too late to report a sexual offence. You will be believed.”
