Child rapist found with 17,000 abuse images jailed

A child rapist caught with more than 17,000 abuse images has been jailed for 13-and-a-half years.

Andrew Sharp pleaded guilty at Canterbrury Crown Court on Friday to multiple counts of child rape, child sexual assault, taking indecent photos of a child and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

The 69-year-old, of Valley Grove, Charlton, south-east London, was caught after he uploaded an illegal image of a child to the internet, Kent Police said.

Detectives seized devices from Sharp's property in Station Road, Romney Marsh, Kent, in June last year and found child sexual abuse material on a laptop.

Sharp was not in the country during the search but police told him of the seizure.

Re-entering the country on 21 June 2025, Sharp messaged a contact to confess having indecent images and taking indecent pictures of a young girl.

During interview he admitted possessing indecent images on his laptop and sexually assaulting a young girl over four years, police said.

More laptops were found and a total of 17,382 illegal images uncovered.

Det Con Andrew Hunter said: "At no stage during the investigation did Sharp show any remorse for the sustained campaign of abuse he inflicted on his victim or for possessing such terrible images.

"I am pleased to see him behind bars where he can cause no further harm."

Sharp was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim for 20 years.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.