Brian Hoad

A man from Lancing has been imprisoned for 18 years following his conviction for the repeated rape and sexual assault of his step-daughter during her childhood. Brian Hoad, aged 66, of Kings Road in Lancing, West Sussex, carried out the attacks over a four-year period beginning in August 1985, when his victim was just 12 years old.

The abuse commenced on 1 August 1985, when Hoad plied the young girl with wine and raped her in the family home. According to court proceedings at Lewes Crown Court, Hoad continued to rape her 'at every opportunity' until she was 16, including instances when other family members were present in the house. The victim, now a woman in her 50s, reported the historical abuse to Sussex Police on 3 June 2021, prompting a thorough investigation by specialist officers.

Hoad was arrested the following day, on 4 June 2021, and subsequently charged with four counts of rape of a girl under 16 and two counts of sexual assault on a girl under 16. After a trial, he was found guilty on all counts on Friday, 14 July 2023. Sentencing occurred on Monday, 17 July 2023, at Lewes Crown Court, where Judge Christopher Parker imposed an 18-year custodial sentence. Hoad must serve a minimum of two-thirds of the term before being eligible for parole. Additionally, an indefinite restraining order was issued, prohibiting any direct or indirect contact with the victim.

In a poignant victim impact statement read to the court, the survivor described the profound and lasting effects of the abuse: 'I didn’t have the chance to truly understand what a normal relationship was. For years I believed that relationships were about giving of yourself to the detriment of your own needs, people pleasing for the sake of family peace, not being able to express a contrary opinion for fear of vilification or retribution taken on other innocent family members.' She further explained how the trauma led her to wear 'a mask of yourself', learning survival skills no child should need, and leaving home with distorted views of intimacy: 'I left home believing that sex was all any man would ever want from me, even if I didn’t enjoy it.'

Detective Constable Emily Turner of Sussex Police commended the victim's bravery in her statement: 'Brian Hoad abused his position of trust and responsibility in the most abhorrent ways, robbing his innocent victim of a normal childhood through his own depraved actions. His detestable crimes have had a long-lasting impact, but thanks to her bravery in coming forward he will now spend a significant part of the rest of his life in prison.' Turner emphasised the importance of reporting such crimes, noting that justice can be pursued regardless of the time elapsed since the offences. The case was reported by ITV News Meridian on 25 July 2023.