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Teen who tried to rape woman in Romney Marsh woods had child abuse images

By: Julia Roberts jroberts@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 04 August 2024

A teenager locked up for what was described as an "extremely violent and terrifying" stranger sex attack faces more time behind bars for downloading and sharing child abuse images.

Jack Usher, who was just 18 when he tried to rape a woman walking through woodland in Greatstone, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday (August 1) where he pleaded guilty to six charges.

Jack Usher custody image. Picture Kent Police

The offences, which were committed between December 2022 and April last year and pre-dated the sex attack, concern images police categorised across all three levels of seriousness.

Usher, now 19 and currently held in Elmley Prison on the Isle of Sheppey, admitted distributing 39 category A photographs, six category B and two category C.

With category A being the worst kind, details of how they were shared, and to who were not given during the brief hearing.

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The offences of making indecent images relate to 161 of category A, 119 category B and 59 category C.

Usher, formerly of Marsh Crescent, New Romney, will be sentenced on August 28.

Adjourning the case, Judge Simon James told the teenager it was necessary for Judge Mark Weekes to hear the proceedings.

Judge Weekes ruled Usher to be a "dangerous" offender when sentenced at the same court in October last year for the attempted rape.

On that occasion, Usher was ordered to be locked up for six years and nine months, of which he must serve at least two-thirds before he can apply for parole.

Once released, he will have a further six years added to any period served on licence.

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But Judge James warned Usher his spell in custody could now be lengthened.

"What needs to happen is that His Honour Judge Weekes needs to reflect as to whether and to what extent that sentence needs to be increased to deal with these offending matters," he explained.

At his previous sentencing hearing, the court was told Usher had been seen lurking in the woods, dressed in a heavy coat despite the warm weather, before launching his brutal attack shortly after 5pm on May 13 last year.

He repeatedly punched his victim, dragged her by her hair, and ignored her desperate pleas to stop, said prosecutor Martin Yale.

Fortunately, despite the "significant" level of violence used, the woman was eventually able to escape his clutches and flee before he carried out his intention to rape.

Following his arrest, Usher confessed to police he had ha "an impulsive thought to do something that would put him away for a very long time".

He subsequently pleaded guilty to attempted rape, assault with intent to commit a sexual offence, and assault causing actual bodily harm.

On passing the extended sentence, Judge Weekes described the victim's ordeal as "harrowing and every lone woman's nightmare".

He told Usher: "It must have been as though time stopped and that what happened to her seemed like a lifetime."

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