Man convicted of sexually abusing children
Anthony Kamau, 51, abused three girls in Saffron Walden over a ten year period to 2016
A man has been convicted of sexually assaulting three girls by a specialist police team which investigate non-recent child abuse.
Anthony Kamau was originally arrested in February 2019 after the offences came to light.
He had sexually abused three children in Saffron Walden over the course of 10 years between 2006 to 2016.
He was charged with two counts of assault by touching, four counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl, and one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.
Kamau fled the country after his first court hearing.
Police had seized his passport but he had managed to obtain an emergency identity document to fly.
Caroline Horden, who led the investigation, managed to track him down to a place of work outside of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
She then worked with partner agencies to secure his extradition and he was returned to the UK in July last year.
Kamau, 51, formerly of Winstanley Road, Saffron Walden, denied the charges against him but, following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, was found guilty today (Monday 3 April) of all 7 charges.
He is due to be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday 14 June.
The case was investigated by Essex Police's Quest team, which investigates non-recent child abuse.
Caroline Horden said: “I want to pay tribute to the courage demonstrated by the victims in the case to come forward and tell us what happened.
“They have been subjected to an ordeal no child should ever have to experience.
“Anthony Kamau is a prolific offender who poses a risk to children but now faces time behind bars.
“He tried to flee the country and evade justice but you cannot hide from Essex Police, no matter how you try.
“No conviction will ever reverse the damage he has caused but I hope this result will help those affected move forward.”
The Quest team investigate cases where the victim was a child at the time of the abuse but is now an adult and which took place more than 12 months ago.