Paul Valder was instructed to prosecute the trial of Mr Brand, who denied two offences of assault by penetration but was convicted by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court in May.
 
Mr Brand, a 54-year-old former bus driver from Chatham, was found to have groomed the victim, who was a young child.  Mr Brand was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment after a judge found that he was a continuing danger.
 
Mr Brand had previously abused two children, aged seven and nine, while lodging in a pub in 1996. He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on that occasion.
 

Judge Julian Smith described the latest offending as “grotesque”.

He added: “You are a danger to young children. You cannot be trusted to be left alone with any young child.

“The child was extremely vulnerable.There is grooming behaviour. Opportunistic it may have been, but it was organised and persistent.”

Judge Smith said the girl “spoke compellingly” at the trial about her experience. “Harm is inevitable with a child so young,” he added.

A sexual harm prevention order was imposed banning Brand from any contact with children.
 
His name will appear on the sex offenders’ register for life and he will be barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

An NSPCC spokesperson added: “Brand is a serial sexual predator who continues to pose a clear threat to young children.

“While he is behind bars the community is safe from his offending, but it’s absolutely vital that Brand receives rehabilitation and treatment to minimise any further danger he poses when he is eventually released.

“His young victim has shown great bravery by giving evidence and helping bring her attacker to justice. We hope she is receiving all available support to overcome her experiences.”

Paul is an experienced barrister who prosecutes and defends crime at all levels.  He is a CPS level 4 appointed advocate and appears in cases that demand his level of experience and expertise.  Paul has particular experience in MTIC cases, complex frauds and white collar crime work. As a consequence, he is regularly instructed in complex confiscation post-conviction

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