A depraved sex offender who injected a child with drugs during a horrific campaign of abuse during which he raped her multiple times has been jailed for 15 years.
Lee Balchin, 55, from Kent, who was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, also forced his young victim to consume cannabis, suspected ecstasy tablets and alcohol during the years of torment.
The predatory paedophile repeatedly preyed on the child between 2000 and 2004, carrying out the sickening abuse in several locations which included hideouts in remote places.
He regularly plied the child with drugs, which included injecting her with amphetamine, the sentencing hearing was told.
The substances and alcohol would sometimes render his helpless victim almost unconscious, leaving her unable to defend herself against his attacks.
Denied All Wrongdoing
Balchin, of Carnation Close, East Malling, was charged with multiple offences after the crimes were initially reported to Kent Police in 2018.
An investigation revealed the full extent of the horrific abuse he had inflicted on his vulnerable young victim over the four-year period.
Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Balchin denied any wrongdoing and forced his victim to endure the ordeal of a trial.
A lengthy court process led to a trial in August 2025 at which point he was convicted of two charges of rape and two further counts of indecent assault.
The jury at Maidstone Crown Court found him guilty on all counts after hearing the harrowing details of his campaign of abuse.
Threats to Kill
Balchin must serve at least two thirds of his 15-year sentence before he can be considered for parole, meaning he will spend a minimum of 10 years behind bars.
Detective Constable Lisa Roots, who led the investigation, described the defendant in stark terms following his sentencing.
She said Balchin is an extremely dangerous individual who subjected his young victim to a truly harrowing catalogue of appalling and terrifying abuse.
The officer added that it is certainly rare to encounter a case where an offender has demonstrated levels of such callous depravity.
She revealed that he took the child to isolated areas where he knew he wouldn’t be disturbed and also made threats to kill her during the abuse.
Victim’s Tremendous Courage
Detective Constable Roots paid tribute to the bravery shown by Balchin’s victim in coming forward and supporting the prosecution.
She said the impact of Balchin’s offending is incalculable, and yet the victim has summoned such tremendous courage to come forward.
The officer emphasised that the victim’s strength has been instrumental in helping police bring Balchin to justice.
She added that she hoped the sentence would provide some comfort to the survivor, who had waited years to see their abuser face the consequences of his actions.
Isolated Locations
The court heard how Balchin carefully planned his attacks, selecting remote hideouts where he knew he could abuse the child without being disturbed or discovered.
These isolated locations allowed him to subject his victim to prolonged periods of abuse, during which he administered various drugs and alcohol.
The combination of the remote settings and the substances he forced upon the child meant she was left completely at his mercy.
Balchin’s use of drugs including injectable amphetamine demonstrated a calculated approach to ensuring his victim would be unable to resist or escape.
Justice Finally Served
The case highlights the importance of victims of historical abuse coming forward, regardless of how much time has passed since the offences occurred.
Kent Police’s investigation, which began in 2018 when the crimes were first reported, took several years to bring to court due to the complexity of the case.
The lengthy process from initial report to final conviction demonstrates the challenges often faced in prosecuting historical child abuse cases.
However, the successful conviction and substantial sentence handed down to Balchin sends a clear message that such heinous crimes will not go unpunished, no matter how much time has elapsed.
Balchin will be subject to stringent licence conditions upon his eventual release from prison and will remain on the sex offenders register for life.
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