A prolific rapist and sex abuser has been given a 23-year sentence by a judge at Hove Crown Court today (Thursday 22 February).
Ian Elliott, 71, stupefied and attacked several young men in West Sussex over 22 years from 1991 to 2021 – and he was charged with 92 offences when he was brought to court.
The charges included 13 offences of rape and three of attempted rape, 13 sexual assaults and 20 counts of voyeurism.
At Hove Crown Court on Thursday 2 November, Elliott pleaded guilty to 11 counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, 17 counts of voyeurism and eight sexual assaults.
He also admitted four counts of having various drugs, one count of assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The guilty pleas related to four victims who were aged 16 to 28 at the time of the offences.
Judge Jeremy Gold ordered that an additional 38 charges lie on the file and 11 were not taken forward by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
At Hove Crown Court today (Thursday 22 February), Elliott was jailed for 18 years and ordered to serve a further five years on licence.
He was also given an indefinite “sexual harm prevention order” and will be a registered sex offender for life.
Rachel Beckett, prosecuting, told the court that Elliott, a businessman, of North Heath, near Pulborough, filmed many of the attacks.
Sussex Police said: “Elliott would earn the trust of his victims – who were as young as 16 – and their families.
“As a well-known member of the community, Elliott was also the chairman of the local sports association and was involved in local social clubs.
“He would then give his victims drugs and alcohol, with the intention of stupefying or overpowering them, before subjecting them to rapes and serious sexual assaults.
“Many of the attacks were filmed by Elliott himself. Footage was discovered by investigating officers, despite Elliott’s attempts to destroy it, which was used in evidence against him.
“He was arrested in September 2022 and his victims were given specialist support while the investigation continued.”
Judge Gold said that Elliott had an “innate sense of superiority” over his victims and had shown “not a trace of empathy”.
Elliott referred to himself and was often referred to as “Boss”.
Judge Gold listed Elliott’s significant degree of planning, use of intoxicants, betrayal of trust, recording of the offending and attempts to destroy the evidence as aggravating factors, concluding that Elliott had passed the threshold for dangerousness.
In a statement given to Sussex Police, one of Elliott’s victims said: “Mr Elliott is now in prison because a couple of brave men decided to speak up.
“If I’ve learned one thing from this case, it’s to go with your instincts and don’t be afraid to speak up if you think abuse is happening.
“Whatever the outcome or however long the outcome takes, don’t let your abuser win. Pick up the phone and report them to the police or at the very least don’t keep it to yourself and tell someone.”
Detective Constable Victoria Ashworth Kirkby, of the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit, said: “I cannot commend each of these victims enough for the incredible courage and determination they have shown.
“They deserve immense credit for their strength and resilience which was crucial in achieving this conviction. I would like to thank them for their support and perseverance throughout this investigation.
“Elliott has been convicted for his crimes but we believe he may have more victims. If you believe you or someone you know may be a victim, please report to us online or via 101, quoting Operation Ridge. You will be believed and supported and we will investigate.
“You can also report offences to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555111 or via their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”
Detective Superintendent Miles Ockwell, head of Sussex Police’s Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: “Today’s sentence means that Ian Elliott will spend a significant amount of the rest of his life in prison.
“This is the only appropriate outcome given the multiple lives he has ruined as a result of his relentless campaign of sexual abuse, hidden behind the façade of a trustworthy pillar of his local community.
“I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the bravery of Elliott’s victims who came forward to help us bring him to justice. They will live with the effects of the horrendous abuse they have suffered for the rest of their lives.
“Today, Elliott had the chance to show genuine remorse to his victims in court. Instead, through his counsel, despite saying that he acknowledges the harm he has done, he sought to pass the blame from himself on to them. Elliott is not sorry for what he did – he is just sorry that he got caught.
“Despite a wide-ranging, complex police investigation, we cannot be sure that there are not other unidentified victims of abuse perpetrated by Elliott and I would encourage anyone who does think that they have been a victim to contact police.”
