Neil Jarvis

A 46-year-old man from Ramsgate, Kent, has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for committing a series of sexual assaults in the town during 2021. Neil Jarvis, residing on Grange Road, pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court to two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault of a child. The offences occurred near bus stops in Ramsgate, highlighting vulnerabilities in public spaces frequented by women and children.

The first incident took place on 9 June 2021 at a bus stop in Queen Street, where Jarvis approached a group of teenage girls. He was observed staring at them before walking past and inappropriately touching one of the girls on the leg. The victim pushed his hand away, and Jarvis continued walking up the street without further incident at that moment.

On 6 July 2021, the second assault occurred near a bus stop in Plains of Waterloo. Jarvis approached a woman from behind and grabbed her. The victim defended herself by elbowing him and immediately called her husband to the scene, who managed to take a photograph of the perpetrator. This image later proved crucial in identifying Jarvis.

• The third offence happened on 23 September 2021, again at the bus stop in Queen Street. Jarvis was seen looking at a phone held by a four-year-old girl. When the child's mother pulled her away, he slapped the girl's bottom.

Following these incidents, Kent Police launched enquiries utilising CCTV footage and the photograph provided by the second victim, which led to Jarvis being identified as the suspect. He was subsequently charged with the three offences. The case was heard at Canterbury Crown Court on 30 March 2022, where Judge Justice imposed the custodial sentence. In addition to the prison term, Jarvis was made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16.

PC Sonja Lupton, the investigating officer from Kent Police, commented on the case: 'Every woman and girl has a right to feel safe in the communities in which they live and that is why tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for Kent Police. Jarvis’s actions against these victims were abhorrent and I hope the fact that the offender has been held to account gives them some sense that justice has been done.' This sentencing underscores Kent Police's commitment to pursuing perpetrators of sexual violence, as reported in the Hawkinge Gazette on 2 April 2022.