Guilty: Abuser behind three decades of abuse facing lengthy sentence (From Bournemouth Echo)

Kenneth Freemantle guilty of 13 counts of sex abuse

8:00am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News By Alex Winter

A SERIAL sexual abuser who assaulted women and girls in the Poole area for three decades has been warned he faces a lengthy jail sentence.

Kenneth Freemantle, 56, of Fortuneswell, Portland, was found guilty of two rapes, 10 indecent assaults and one sexual assault at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday.

He had pleaded not guilty to the historic allegations, some of which involved girls under the age of 18.

All of his victims are now adults, and cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The court heard how one of his young victims was given a sexually transmitted disease after she was raped by Freemantle.

In her evidence, she said he made her feel “worthless”.

“I was so frightened I didn’t know what to do,” she said.

“I felt useless.”

Another victim said he punched her in the face, giving her a black eye, which Freemantle claimed was the result of “an accident during play fighting”.

The injury was so serious that she was forced to seek hospital treatment.

She told the court during the trial: “I was so embarrassed – I felt ashamed.”

DC Ben Singleton of Dorset Police said: “I’m very pleased with the verdict that has been returned here today.

“The case has been running for over a year. It must have been very traumatic for the victims to come to court and give their evidence, but I hope it gives them some sort of closure so they can move on.”

Judge Johnson told Freemantle: “You are convicted on all 13 counts.

“These are extremely serious matters. It’s going to be a lengthy custodial sentence when we meet again.”

Freemantle was remanded in custody until his sentencing, which will take place within the next month.