Pervert Karl Heath jailed after grooming teenage girl
Maidstone Crown Court,
where Heath's case was heard
by Keith Hunt
A pervert who groomed a teenage girl for several weeks before
having sex with her has been jailed for two years.
Karl Heath was 37 and the girl was 14 when he briefly had
intercourse with her, Maidstone Crown Court heard.
Now 38, Heath, of Freelands Road, Snodland, admitted two charges
of sexual activity with a child.
Trevor Wright, prosecuting, said the victim later told police:
“I felt weird. He is old enough to be my father. I thought it was
my fault. Now it makes me want to be physically sick.”
There was a fairly short period of grooming of five to six weeks
before Heath had full sex with the girl. Mr Wright said the
teenager told Heath it was painful and he stopped.
One of the offences involved kissing and cuddling, which was
sexual, he said, because it led on to intercourse.
"He is considered to be a vulnerable adult. He will find serving a prison sentence extremely difficult and harsh" – Isobel McCarroll, defending Heath
Heath, who has a
teenage son, at first denied the allegations.
Isobel McCarroll, defending, said a psychological report showed
Heath was in the lower nine per cent intellectually for people in
his age band.
“He is less able to think through options and consider the
consequences,” she said. “He has accepted his responsibility.
“He is considered to be a vulnerable adult. He will find serving
a prison sentence extremely difficult and harsh.”
Miss McCarroll said programmes were available that would assist
in Heath’s rehabilitation.
“It is my submission there are very exceptional circumstances
for following the recommendation in the pre-sentence report
“A suspended sentence would allow him to complete a programme
designed to assist a person with his very exceptional
difficulties.
“I realise I am asking for a wholly exceptional course. The
reason I am asking for it is the probation service has recommended
it.”
Judge Philip Statman said it was an unusual case in that there
was a large age gap between Heath and the girl.
“But this defendant has been married, he has raised children, he
has been able to learn to ride a motorbike,” he said. “He has
achieved interesting goals in his life.
“He knows there are things he is doing that are clearly
wrong.”
Heath’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register.
18/01/13
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