by Keith Hunt

A pensioner who committed “gross acts” of indecency with two girls has been jailed for seven years.

Donald Medhurst was told by a judge the sentence had to reflect the psychological damage he had caused the victims, now young ladies.

The 72-year-old pervert, of Thomas Drive, Gravesend, denied three charges of rape, seven of indecent assault, three of sexual assault and three of indecency with a child.

He was cleared of the rapes but convicted of all the other charges by a jury of eight women and four men at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday.

Medhurst claimed the abuse never happened.

The prosecution said Medhurst groomed one of the girls and “employed techniques”, telling her it would be their secret.

He played an obscene game with the other girl and got her to touch him indecently. He would refer to his penis as Fred.

”nothing i can say today will reflect society’s abhorrence of the kind of behaviour...” – judge

Richard Sones, defending, said he would simply point out Medhurst’s age and that he was of previous good character.

“There is no more I can say,” he added.

Judge Michael Carroll said Medhurst took advantage of how vulnerable the victims were when committing the offences.

“Nothing I can say today will reflect society’s abhorrence of the kind of behaviour you have been convicted of by this jury,” he said.

“I take into account you are 72 years of age. However, I also take into account these series of offences began in your 60s.

“It is not a case of a young man being brought to justice after acts done when much younger.”

As there were two victims, he said, he would pass consecutive sentences of four years and three years.

Medhurst’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.