A 38-year-old man from Folkestone has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of raping two women. Harry Arnold, formerly of The Street, Newington, was sentenced on 13 May 2026 at Canterbury Crown Court, bringing to a close a case that began more than six years ago.
Arnold, who was arrested shortly after Kent Police launched its investigation in February 2020, was also ordered to serve an additional three years on licence. He will remain on the sex offender register for life, is subject to a restraining order and is barred indefinitely from working with children or vulnerable people.
The sentence reflects the scale of the evidence gathered over a long investigation and the impact on two women who did not know each other. Specialist detectives examined 15 electronic devices, extensive medical records and multiple witness statements before the case was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023.
Arnold initially denied the allegations. He was later convicted in February 2025 of controlling and coercive behaviour, but a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the rape charges. A retrial followed in March 2026, and that second trial led to convictions for multiple counts of rape against both victims.
Police said the case began after one victim reported Arnold’s previous offending in February 2020, prompting the investigation that led to his arrest. A second victim later came forward, and detectives built the case through digital evidence, medical records and witness accounts over several years. The two women were strangers to each other.
Lizzie Burridge said the sentence reflected the courage of the victims and the dedication of Kent Police, adding that they endured severe abuse and lengthy trials to see justice done. She said the force remained committed to pursuing sex offenders and protecting the community.
For Arnold, the outcome brings a prison term that will keep him behind bars for the next two decades, followed by licence conditions and lifetime monitoring. For the victims, it closes a case that moved through arrest, trial, a hung jury and a retrial before it finally ended in convictions and sentencing.
