Maidstone Crown Court, where Crittenden was sentenced

by Keith Hunt

A pervert who subjected two teenage girls to degrading sexual abuse has been jailed for eight years.

Clive Crittenden will be on licence for a further four years under an extended sentence after a judge found he was a danger to others.

The 55-year-old, of Brionne Gardens, Tonbridge, denied one charge of rape, one of indecent assault, eight of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three of sexual activity with a child.

He was last month cleared of rape, indecent assault and one charge of sexual activity with a child and convicted of the remaining charges.

Crittenden admitted one offence of sexual activity with a child.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he sent “wholly inappropriate” text messages to the girls. The mother of one of them saw some messages and contacted the police.

Crittenden had told the girl he wanted to have sex with her in various ways. One tamer text said: “Why don’t we make love?” He dismissed the messages as “just banter”.

"some of these matters are shocking and uncomfortable to listen to" – prosecutor nicola merrick

The victim then revealed he had abused her. She told him she did not like what he was doing but he ignored her.

Prosecutor Nicola Merrick said the other girl described two incidents. In one, he pulled down her trousers and knickers and molested her in his newly-acquired Mitsubishi Shogun car.

Crittenden claimed the girl had seduced him.

She also claimed he had sexual intercourse with her against her will in the car and told her not to be boring when she complained, but he was cleared of rape.

“Some of these matters are shocking and uncomfortable to listen to,” said Miss Merrick.

Mr Recorder Malcolm Fortune had at the end of the trial described the offending as “astonishing”. The text messages, he said, revealed a more sinister side to Crittenden.

He had a lack of insight into how right-thinking people would view his behaviour as predatory and manipulative.

“In my judgement, I find there is a significant risk you will commit further offences and cause serious harm,” he said. “Your are, in my view, both predatory and dangerous.”

Recorder Fortune said one of the victims recognised Crittenden needed help and said his behaviour was “an addiction”.

It was no surprise to hear how she felt and that she had sought counselling, he added.

His name will be on the sex offenders' register for life.