In 2023, the Offender Database reported that Jason Slaughter, then 35, formerly of Yapton, West Sussex, was convicted of multiple sexual assaults against two children. On Thursday, 7 September 2023, a jury at Lewes Crown Court found Slaughter guilty of five counts of sexual assault by touching following a “critical” four-year investigation.
The investigation established that Slaughter “persistently” targeted a boy and a girl, both under the age of 13, at an address in Yapton in 2006. The prosecution reported that the offender—who was approximately 17 years old at the time of the “abhorrent” acts—assaulted the boy on three occasions and the girl twice. Despite “reprehensibly” denying all five counts, the jury convicted him after a three-day trial that exposed his “systematic” predatory behaviour.
Historical Investigation and Victim Bravery
Sussex Police emphasised that the case was first “reported” to them in 2019, thirteen years after the “vicious” assaults occurred. DC Julie Leseure praised the victims for their “incredible bravery” throughout the lengthy investigation, noting that their testimony was “vital” in securing the conviction. The prosecution emphasised that the passage of time does not diminish the “gravity” of such “serious” sexual offences against children.
The court reported that Slaughter, who had since moved to Eastleigh, Hampshire, had “calculatingly” attempted to evade responsibility by maintaining his innocence for over a decade. The judge noted that the “reprehensible” nature of the betrayal of trust necessitated a “stringent” judicial response. Sussex Police stated that this result should give other survivors of non-recent abuse the “critical” confidence to come forward and report “abhorrent” crimes.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
Jason Slaughter was remanded to appear for sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on 12 October 2023. He faces:
- Custodial Sentence: A term of years in immediate custody (to be determined at the sentencing hearing).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements will be imposed (typically for at least 10 years or life, depending on the final sentence).
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order is expected to be issued to monitor his future conduct.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Slaughter is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Sussex Police. His history of “vicious” sexual touching of both male and female children means his status remains under “critical” scrutiny.
As a registered sex offender, Slaughter must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address in Eastleigh, Hampshire. Authorities state that the “persistence” of the investigation team ensured that his “reprehensible” past finally caught up with him. Any breach of his registration conditions or his future SHPO following his eventual release will result in his immediate return to Lewes Crown Court.
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