Man, 22, jailed for five years for rape and sexual assault of a child under 13

A 22-year-old man from Christchurch, Dorset has been jailed for five years for the rape and sexual assault of a child aged under 13.

Darren Marsh, of The Strete, was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Friday (10 May).

The three offences, for which he had previously pled guilty and has now been imprisoned, took place in New Milton in April 2023.

As well as the time he will now spend behind bars, Marsh will also be a registered sexual offender for the remainder of his life.

Upon his release from prison, he will also serve a 12-month extended period on licence and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Detective Constable Dawn Capper, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “I am so pleased for the young victim in this case that justice has now been served for them and their family, and that Marsh has now been placed behind bars, where he belongs.

“While I know this result won’t rid them of the memories of what Marsh did, I truly hope it allows them to move forward with their life, safe in the knowledge that he can no longer harm any other children.

“I also hope this sentence will reassure other victims that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents to us.

“We encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work hard to bring offenders to justice.

“This should also be a very clear message to other offenders out there that we will always work tirelessly to ensure you are brought to justice.

“I would also like to thank everyone else who assisted in getting this conviction.”

Anyone who has any concerns about child abuse should contact us on 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police, but there is support services available that can help you if you are a victim of abuse.

Anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood, or is concerned about a child, can contact the NSPCC helpline, confidentially, on 0808 800 5000. Alternatively, you can email [email protected]. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.

As a survivor of sexual abuse, you’re entitled to support, whether you report the crime or not. You can access different types of support depending on how you’re feeling and what you decide to do next.

Please follow the below link for more information;

Support for rape and sexual assault | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary