John Churchley and David Keen sentenced

13/07/2010

John Churchley and David Keen have been sentenced at Hove Crown Court today for their involvement in child sex offences.

John Churchley was sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment and was given an extended licence for 6 years. David Keen was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and will have to serve at least 7 years' before being considered for parole.

Prosecutor Ken Goss said:

"John Churchley and David Keen were involved in the persistent and serious abuse of young boys.

"The prosecution relied upon evidence which demonstrated that there was an agreement between the two men to supply youngsters for them to use at will. The defendants negotiated fees for sexual activity, photographs and videos and used the boys for their own gratification.

"Keen groomed and developed a circle of young friends for this purpose, befriending them and carefully creating an environment where he could corrupt, abuse and sell the children he thought with impunity.

"What the children came to realise is that the person they regarded as a friend, almost a brother, was encouraging them to be involved in sexual acts and to be readily available to be abused by him and by arrangement with Churchley for a fee. Their activities were filmed often without the boys' knowledge.

"Keen also developed a relationship online with a 13-year-old boy in Australia, eventually visiting him, abusing him and filming them both together. He lied about his age to the boy and the boy's mother.

"The two defendants have pleaded guilty to the offences, but the victims and their families will have to live with the consequences of Churchley and Keen's actions for many years to come. Their offences go far deeper than physical abuse: they exploited the young boys' trust and irrevocably altered their formative years.

"The victims have been extremely brave and we wish to thank them for their courage in coming forward to support the prosecution."