Search results for Leeds

Description

A man has been convicted of the rape of a woman in the Hyde Park area of Leeds earlier this year.

Uvesh Vahora, aged 36, of no fixed abode, was found guilty today following a trial at Leeds Crown Court of one count of rape. He has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on 11 November.

The incident on Autumn Avenue on the night of 9 April was the subject of a public appeal at the time.

The victim was able to identify the property where the offence took place and Vahora, who was living there at the time, was arrested.

The court was told Vahora, whose self-defined ethnicity is Asian Indian, was in the country as a student.

Detective Inspector Tom Crosfill said:

“Vahora has subjected the victim to a terrifying experience with her being in genuine fear for her life thinking that he was going to kill her.

“After disclosing the offence to friends, she contacted police with officers arresting Vahora within around five hours of this offence taking place. He has been held on remand since that time.

“In the meantime, those working on this investigation have gathered the evidence including victim and witness statements, CCTV and digital lines of enquiry that has led to Vahora’s conviction.

“I understand how incredibly difficult it can be to report rape and other sexual offences and I really hope that this conviction demonstrates how seriously an offence of this nature is treated from the outset. Our message to victims is that you will be listened to, you will be supported and we will do everything possible to bring perpetrators before the courts.”

Description

A woman has been commended for her courage after helping convict a man who seriously sexually abused her as a child in Kirklees.

Safeguarding officers from Kirklees Police thanked the victim for coming forward, following the sentencing at Leeds Crown Court today of Richard Day for rape.

Day, aged 30 of Jubilee Terrace, Morley, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of rape of a child under 13.

He was also given a restraining order and put on the Sex Offenders Register. 

The offences took place between 2014 and 2017 and were first reported by the victim in March 2021.

Dedicated safeguarding officers began a full investigation into the report, while offering support to the victim. 

The investigation resulted in Day being summonsed to court in October 2023.

He pleaded not guilty to the offences but was found guilty by a jury in a unanimous verdict at a trial this June.

Detective Sergeant Olivia Connor who led the investigation, said: 

“We fully appreciate just how difficult it can be for victims of such dreadful offending to come forward and report what they have suffered, and I want to commend the bravery of the survivor in this case.

"Day subjected her to appalling abuse over a prolonged period of time and then put her through the ordeal of a trial.  A jury has unanimously convicted him for these offences, and we hope the victim can take comfort from that and seeing him sentenced.

"We do continue to encourage survivors of sexual offences who may not have come forwards, for whatever reason, to do so. Dedicated safeguarding detectives will do all they can to support you and help you secure justice."

Description

A paedophile who preyed on a child in Hereford and Leeds has been sentenced to eight years and six months in prison.

Samuel Sutcliffe, 29, of Rothwell, Leeds, was convicted at Worcester Crown Court on Friday (25 September) of the following offences: -

• Two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child aged 13 to 15
• One count of non-penetrative sexual activity with a child aged 13 to 15
• Two counts of causing/inciting non-penetrative sexual activity with a child aged 13 to 15
• Two counts of taking an indecent photo or pseudo photo of a child

Sutcliffe was sentenced to a total of eight years and six months in prison, ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for ten years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190.

He began contacting his victim in 2021 via an online gaming platform before adding him as a friend on Facebook and then progressing the conversation on to a WhatsApp chat using pseudonyms.

Sutcliffe (pictured) began sending her indecent images of himself and put pressure on her to meet him which she did. He then made her perform sexual acts on him, which he also did to the victim, that eventually led to sexual intercourse on several occasions. 

Alarm bells were raised by the victim’s carers after she went missing to meet Sutcliffe and police were alerted. He was subsequently arrested by South Yorkshire Police in Leeds.  

Detective Constable Lia Williams of Hereford CID said:

“We are pleased to get this custodial term for Sutcliffe, who preyed on a vulnerable teenage girl for his own perverted gratification.

“We hope this shows we take reports of child sexual exploitation seriously and will always act when such incidents are reported to us.

“This case also highlights the need for responsible adults to monitor their children’s online activities and report any concerns to us if they feel something is not right or they may be being exploited.”

Description

A Leeds man has been jailed after admitting multiple sexual offences against children.

Jake Regan, 33, of Borrough Avenue, Leeds was sentenced to five years and six months in prison at Leeds Crown Court last week after admitting five online sexual offences and possession of Class A drugs. 

The 33-year-old was jailed on 2 September after pleading guilty to a count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and a count of causing a child to watch sexual activity.

He also admitted to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child and a count of making an indecent photo of a child. All of the offending took place between 2023 and 2025.

Regan also admitted possession of Class A drugs after officers located methamphetamine during a search of his flat.

Aside from his court sentence Regan has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register and has been made subject of a restrictive sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Breach of an SHPO can lead to a sentence of five years in prison.

DI Victoria Thomas of the Leeds Safeguarding Unit, said:

“The commission of sexual offences against children online are extremely harmful. Regan thought he could incite sexual communication with girls online without reproach but due to the diligence of the officer in the case, the evidence presented at court was watertight and undeniable, leaving him no choice but to plead guilty to all offences. We welcome the sentence imposed on Regan by the court, which sends a clear message that predatory online sexual offending does not go under the radar and the consequences will be severe.”

Description

A man from Leeds who forced more than 100 victims into sexual activity and self-harm as part of a Com group, including them carving his online username into their bodies, has been sentenced to two years in prison after a National Crime Agency investigation.

NCA officers started an investigation into Justin Swaddle, 20, from Leeds, in January 2024.

Swaddle was first arrested by West Yorkshire Police in October 2023 for offences including possession, making and distribution of indecent images.

His digital devices were seized and his online presence was investigated. Swaddle was active across social media platforms including Snapchat, Telegram and Discord using usernames including 'Epstein', 'Rugen' and 'Moscow'.

NCA officers took over the investigation and examined the content of his phone and computer, finding hundreds of conversations, all of which involved young females and were of a sexual nature.

Investigators found Swaddle, who was 17 at the time of the offending, was operating in a Com group, a community of people online committing criminality including coercing victims to physically harm or sexually abuse themselves.

Com groups have an international membership and use online channels from messaging apps to gaming platforms to commit their crimes.

Offenders and victims are usually in the same groups, and offenders are usually not motivated by money or sexual gratification but by the status and notoriety that comes with sharing shocking content with other members.

The NCA identified a total of 117 female victims worldwide, aging from 13 to 17, and with eight in the UK that Swaddle had been in communication with.

One victim, 17, said she had met Swaddle in November 2022 through Discord before moving to Snapchat where conversations escalated to be sexual and self-harm was discussed. Swaddle requested nude images of the victim and told her to carve his username into her body.

She said Swaddle had obtained her name, address and school details. The victim stated she did what he wanted because she didn't want to upset him and that his mood changed if she did not comply.

She became aware that he had recorded calls where sexual activity had taken place and shared them with a group, and said that he had threatened to use the details about where she lived and went to school so that she would provide further images and videos.

Telegram messages recovered from Swaddle's device showed he had attempted to incite a child to sexually abuse a younger child and record it for him, threatening to leak indecent images if further content was not received.

Numerous images were found on his device showing victims with self-harm injuries, including Swaddle's aliases being carved into their skin, and indecent images of children in Categories A to C, with A being the most severe.

Officers estimated the children shown in images recovered from his devices ranged from three to 17 and several showed that the acts were directed or encouraged by Swaddle.

Using the NCA's International Liaison Officer network, investigators worked with law enforcement partners in the USA, Canada, Australia, Norway and New Zealand to speak to and safeguard victims.

Swaddle was charged with a number of child sexual abuse offences and blackmail. He pleaded guilty to all offences at Leeds Crown Court on 2 July.

He was sentenced at the same court today (10 August) to two years in prison. He will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and is required to sign the National Sex Offenders Register.

HHJ Kelson KC described Swaddle as 'a predatory shark preying on children swimming in the dark waters of the internet' remarking it was 'one of the more extreme cases' seen.

Danielle Pownall Operations Manager from the NCA, said:

"Justin Swaddle targeted young and vulnerable victims all over the world to abuse and scare them into carrying out shocking self-harm and sexual activity, purely to gain popularity with his peers online.

"He gained the trust of his victims, before collecting private information about them so he could threaten to share their intimate images or report them to their school or parents to incite further content.

"While the number of people involved in Com groups are relatively small, the impact it has on victims is high and long-lasting, as Swaddle's offending shows.

"We are extremely grateful for the assistance of West Yorkshire Police, our international partners and specialist prosecutors at the CPS in bringing a dangerous offender to justice.

"The NCA is coordinating the response to Com groups in the UK, working with a range of law enforcement, health and safeguarding partners to better understand pathways into offending and identify opportunities for prevention and intervention."

Description

A man has now been jailed after he went on the run after being found guilty of sexual offences against four child victims.

Jason Spence, aged 38, of Roker Lane, Pudsey, was found guilty following a trial at Leeds Crown Court of multiple crimes, including four rape offences and five offences of assault by touching. All the victims were under 13 at the time of the offences.

He was also found guilty of offences related to making indecent images of children and possessing prohibited images of children.

He was released by the court on 2 April on conditional bail ahead of sentencing, but a warrant was then issued for his arrest after he failed to attend court on 16 April.

Spence was on the run for 33 days before being arrested in Ireland and returned to the UK.

He was sentenced today (Wednesday 8 July) and was given a 32 year extended sentence, consisting of 24 years custodial sentence and eight years on licence.

Detective Constable Gemma Varley, of Leeds District Safeguarding, said:

“What these children have endured at such a young age is unimaginable.  

“This was a complex investigation that required extremely sensitive handling, balancing the need to gain evidence to ensure Spence was convicted with being careful and considerate of the trauma that these young victims had already been exposed to.

"The officer who led on this investigation, Nicki Vincent, has since retired but returned to give evidence during the trial, helping to ensure Spence has been held accountable for his actions."

Detective Constable Susan Abbott, who was also involved in the safeguarding investigation and then led the subsequent manhunt, said:

"Spence has tried to evade justice by leaving the country before he could be sentenced, causing further distress to his victims and their family members.

"We were determined to find him and worked closely with An Garda Síochána to ensure he was arrested and brought back to the UK to be sentenced.

"Spence is clearly a dangerous man who has preyed on multiple children. I hope that knowing he is now in prison helps those who have been involved in this awful case as they continue to try and rebuild their lives.” 

Description

Detectives have praised the bravery, determination and resolve shown by the teenage victim of a sustained sexual attack as the man responsible was today jailed for his crimes.

The victim shared a powerful victim personal statement with the court. An excerpt from the statement reads:

“This will affect my future because the incident has affected my self-worth and my belief in myself. I have recurring thoughts that I am useless. This is because I believe the suspect saw me as some cheap tat on the road that he could do whatever he wanted with. This is something I overthink about a lot.”

Omarie Adams, aged 34, of Second Avenue, Armley, was found guilty on 18 March of four counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault. The offences were all committed against a 13-year-old girl on 11 September 2025.  

He was sentenced today to an extended sentence of 20 years. He was also added to the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and made the subject of a restraining order.

Adams, who was a stranger to the victim, took her from the street in broad daylight and drove her to multiple locations around Leeds where he sexually abused her for a period of two hours. He claimed in the three-day trial that he had not noticed the victim was wearing her school jumper.  

Adams was identified after police conducted enquiries into the telephone number he provided to the victim after the ordeal. The victim also provided an incredibly detailed and accurate description of the suspect.

Detective Constable Ellie Middlemass, who was the officer in case, said:

“Adams subjected a vulnerable young girl to hours of atrocious abuse, and this has understandably had a significant impact on her life.  

“Following a detailed investigation, helped enormously by the detail and consistency provided by the victim, Adams was charged and has now been convicted of a number of very serious offences.

“I would like to recognise the immense bravery, determination and resolve shown by the victim throughout the investigation. I hope the knowledge that Adams will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars will provide some comfort as she works hard to move on with her life.

“I also hope the successful outcome in this case might encourage any victims of similar offences to please come forward and report them to us. We treat all sexual offences, recent or not, extremely seriously. We have specialist officers who can support you through the process and will do everything we can to get justice for you.”

Giving the final words to the victim, she said:  

“I have supported this investigation because I want the suspect to be locked away so that he faces justice and knows he cannot get away with what he has done and won’t go on to do this to someone else.”

She closed by saying:

“Omarie Adams has taken away my dignity. This is not something I will ever get back. I hope he rots in prison.” 

Description

A woman from Kirklees has been commended for her courage after helping convict four men who sexually abused her more than 30 years ago.    

This follows an investigation into the rape and sexual abuse of a teenage girl in Kirklees and Wakefield between 1994 and 2000.    

Detectives have described the abuse she suffered as absolutely appalling and have thanked the victim for coming forward and reporting the offending.  

Jagtar Sahota, aged 64, from Leeds was sentenced today (29 April) at Leeds Crown Court to 21 years in prison for 11 counts of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault. 

He was also jailed for one count of actual bodily harm, with all offending taking place between the years 1997 and 2000.    

Yesterday (28 April), Zahid Hussain, aged 48 and Mohammed Chhibda, aged 49, were found guilty of indecent assault offences against the same woman.    

The men, who are all from Dewsbury, committed the offences between 1994 and 1997.      

A fourth man, Basharat Wali, aged 46, from Dewsbury, had already pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault.    

They will be sentenced on 4 June.  

In a statement from the survivor, which was read during Jagtar Sahota’s trial about the sexual offending she endured at his hands, she said:    

“There are no words what this man has done to me. He took something from me that I can never get back and it’s not just what he did in his moments of abuse- it's the lifetime of destruction that followed.    

“The pain caused didn't end when he walked away. No. It lives with me every single day. It haunts me in ways I can't explain.    

“I don't know if I'll ever find peace, but I do know this, I'm trying. I'm trying to find a way to heal, even if it's one broken piece at a time.”

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Stevens, of Kirklees District Police, said: 

“The survivor in these trials has shown enormous courage in coming forwards to make these men answer for the huge and lasting damage they caused her.    

“As her statement makes clear, the appalling abuse she suffered has taken a dreadful toll on her throughout her teenage and then adult life.    

“Thanks to her bravery though, these four men have now all been convicted, with one sentenced and receiving a substantial term in prison. 

“We continue to urge all victims of sexual offending who may not have reported offences to come forwards, no matter when crimes took place. Specialist officers will always, listen, investigate, and do whatever they can to secure justice for you.”   

Description

A man who repeatedly raped a vulnerable woman and forced her to have sex with multiple men in an incident at his home has been jailed following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Team.

The team launched an investigation in October 2022 after the victim reported being raped by Cleveland Wyatt and by several other men and badly beaten at an address in the Chapeltown area of Leeds.

Officers carried out enquiries into the incidents and arrested Wyatt and another man in March 2023.

After consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, both men were charged with several sexual offences.

Following a trial at Leeds Crown Court in February this year, Wyatt was found guilty of four offences. His co-defendant was found not guilty on all counts.

Wyatt was convicted of one count of rape of the victim between 31 July 2022 and 1 September 2022, and of another count of rape relating to three additional occasions during the same period.

He was also convicted of two counts of causing the victim to engage in penetrative sexual activity without her consent between 1 September 2022 and 31 October 2022 in relation to an incident involving the other men.

Despite extensive enquiries, officers were unable to identify the other men involved in the offences.

Officers supported the victim throughout the investigation and the trial, and she was able to give her evidence under special measures that allowed her account and cross-examination to be video recorded in advance to reduce the impact of the court process on her.

Today, Wyatt, aged 62, of Ederoyd Drive, Pudsey, was sentenced to 21 years in prison. He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The victim provided a Victim Personal Statement to the court. In it she said: “Immediately after all this happened I was anxious and nervous all the time. My sleep has been affected and I have nightmares. I often have nightmares that I am being raped, it’s like re-living what happened. I feel scared and nervous and think about what happened, just talking about this now makes me tear up and feel upset.”

Detective Chief Inspector Lisa Jones, who heads the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Team, which is part of the force’s Programme Precision initiative targeting serious and organised crime, said:

“Wyatt preyed on the victim, who was clearly very vulnerable, and cruelly exploited her in the most appalling of circumstances, raping her on several occasions and forcing her into being raped by multiple other men at the same time.

“During what was a very challenging investigation, officers from the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Team were able to build up a comprehensive evidential picture that has resulted in Wyatt being found guilty at trial.

“Most importantly, we would like to recognise the courage that the victim has shown throughout the investigation and the trial. The lasting traumatic impact that Wyatt’s actions have had on her cannot be underestimated, and we hope it will provide some degree of comfort to her to see him brought to justice.

“West Yorkshire Police remains committed to tackling violence against women and girls alongside our partner agencies, and we hope the successful outcome of this case will illustrate that continued aim and give victims of other similar offences the confidence to come forward knowing they will be listened to and supported.”

Description

A man has been jailed after being found guilty of raping a man in Leeds.  

Abdi Wahab Abdulla, aged 31, of Harehills Avenue, Leeds, was found guilty following a four-day trial at Leeds Crown Court of rape and attempt rape. He previously pleaded guilty to a charge of theft against the same victim.  

He was sentenced today to seven and a half years imprisonment and will be added to the Sex Offenders Register.

The offences happened on the morning of 14 January 2023. The victim, who was 19-years-old at the time, had been on a night out and fallen asleep inside the Queens Arcade in Leeds city centre.  

CCTV footage shows Abdulla enter the arcade and approach the victim, before searching him and putting items in his pocket.  

The victim woke up at this point, and Abdulla is seen helping him to his feet and walking out with him.  

Abdulla has gone on to follow the victim over some distance, initially threatening him with a knife and orally raping him near the Merrion Centre before attempting to anally rape him in Woodhouse Moor Park. It is after the oral rape that the victim has realised that his phone, keys and credit card were missing from his pocket.  

The victim reported the offences to the police later that day.  

Abdulla was made a suspect as a result of officers positively identifying him in CCTV images, and he was arrested on 12 February 2023. He was later also the subject of a forensic DNA hit.  

The Judge commended the detectives involved in the investigation.

Detective Constable Jack Powell, of Leeds Safeguarding, said:

“The victim was by his own admission, and verified by CCTV footage, heavily intoxicated at the time of these offences, leaving him in an extremely vulnerable state and unable to consent to any sexual activity.  

“Abdulla has taken advantage of this, firstly stealing the victim’s property before threatening him at knifepoint and subjecting him to horrific sexual offences. The way Abdulla followed him over a considerable period of time demonstrates a predatory nature and shows the danger that he poses.  

“These offences have had a huge impact on the victim, and I know no sentence can or will ever make up for the awful ordeal that he has suffered. I hope though that he is reassured that Abdulla has been held accountable for what he did and that he feels safer knowing that Abdulla is now in prison.  

“The victim received specialist safeguarding support throughout this investigation, and I would urge anyone who has been the victim of any sexual offence to please come forward so that you can also be safeguarded. Offences against boys and men in particular are believed to be under-reported. I want to reassure male victims that you are not alone and that there should be no stigma in coming forward.”  

Description

An asylum seeker stalked a young woman home before sexually assaulting her in a chilling attack that left her terrified even in her own "safe place".

Sami Rasouli, 21, faces deportation to Iran after serving half of his two-year sentence for the offences committed last August. Leeds Crown Court heard on Tuesday that he spotted the victim waiting for a bus on Boar Lane, followed her onto the same bus — sitting directly behind her despite other seats being available — and trailed her home after the 45-minute journey.

Prosecutor Paul Canfield told the court Rasouli called her beautiful, asked for her Snapchat, then used Google Translate to ask her to the park and demand a kiss. "The defendant ran towards her and grabbed her and pulled her into him to kiss her, but she swerved, resulting in him kissing her cheek." He then pushed her into a bush and touched her genitalia over her clothing.

A neighbour heard her screaming and rushed out barefoot; she escaped and ran home. Rasouli was arrested the next day. He initially denied the allegations in a prepared statement, claiming "no DNA on the complainant." His DNA was found on the victim, and he admitted two counts of sexual assault on the day of his trial.

In her victim personal statement, she said she could not sleep fearing he was waiting outside. "She felt frightened even when inside her own home because her home was supposed to be her safe place." She remained "very on edge and constantly aware of her surroundings" and unable to use buses or trains.

Rasouli had no previous UK convictions. Mitigating, Eleanor Mitten said he was 20 at the time, had fled danger in Iran seeking asylum with no family here, claimed he was heading to his barber shop job, and expressed remorse.

Jailing him, His Honour Judge Marson KC told Rasouli:

"In my judgement, it is clear you wanted some sexual contact with her, whether she consented or not. It is also clear there was some planning. As one might expect, she has suffered psychological harm which still persists today.

"The courts must protect women from attacks such as these. Women should be allowed to walk freely in public without risk of attack... I hope that you will be deported when this [sentence] has been served. But if you are not, you will be released on licence."

Description

I thought we had some sort of secret relationship. He made it seem like it was something special, something I had to keep quiet. But I was a child. I now understand that what happened wasn’t right. It wasn’t a relationship – it was abuse.

These are the words of the victim of Frankie Allwork.  

Allwork, 27, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (2 March) after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.  

He was convicted following an investigation by detectives from the Child Vulnerability Exploitation Team (CVET) into offences which occurred over several months at Allwork’s address in Kentmere Avenue and at the victim’s home.

Allwork was given a total sentence of 12 years. He will serve a minimum of eight years in custody.  

He was also served with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order and was required to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.  

Speaking after Allwork had been sentenced, the officer in the case Detective Constable Jody Bergstrom, said:

“I would like to thank the victim for her courage in coming forward to report Allwork’s crimes.

“He knew she was under the age of consent, but this did not stop him sexually abusing her over a period of several months.  

“I hope this outcome will give her some closure.  

“I hope it will also encourage other victims to speak with our specially-trained officers who will investigate all reports and provide support throughout the investigation.” 

Description

A man has been convicted after his DNA was linked to a 2021 unsolved rape investigation following his arrest for an attempt rape in Leeds.  

Rashid Boachie, aged 44, was found guilty today 19th February 2026 of rape, and sexual assault and will be sentenced on 25th March 2026.  

In the early hours of 10th August 2025, Boachie targeted a woman who had become separated from her friends while on a night out in Leeds.  

CCTV showed Boachie talking with the victim before taking her to an alleyway behind the Travelodge hotel on Blayds Yard. Boachie sexually assaulted her  when a staff member from the hotel heard the woman’s cries for help and intervened, causing Boachie to walk away.  

Boachie was identified after a media appeal was made which included CCTV images of him in the vicinity of the offence.  

He was arrested on 14 August and, as part of his arrest, DNA samples were taken. His DNA was found to match DNA found on the jeans of the victim in a rape investigation from 2021.  

The earlier offence had been reported to the police and investigated at the time, but no suspect could be identified.  

It occurred on 29 August 2021 in the Beeston area of Leeds.  

The victim in that case had been drinking with friends, and a number of taxis had been called to take them into the city centre.  

The victim had stepped away from her friends for a short period and mistakenly got into Boachie’s car thinking it was a taxi.  

Instead of taking her home as requested, Boachie first took her to one car park which was too busy before taking her to another empty car park where he raped her. While in the car, the victim was able to send a short video message in which she can be heard saying “help me.”  

Boachie has been remanded in custody since his arrest and charge in August last year.

Detective Inspector Jodie Hayes, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said:

“In both cases, Boachie has deliberately preyed on heavily intoxicated, vulnerable women who have become separated from their friends. He is a dangerous sexual predator who will hopefully now be behind bars for a long time.  

“The victims have both shown immense courage throughout, and I am sorry that despite the evidence against him, Boachie refused to admit what he had done, resulting in them having to go through the trial process.  

“Members of the public played a valuable role in helping us identify Boachie in the CCTV images from the 2025 offence. By arresting him for that offence, we were able to then link him back to the earlier offence.  

“Cases like this are never fully closed, we will always act on any new evidence to get justice for victims.  

“There were four years between these offences and there is potential that Boachie has committed other crimes during that time. If anyone has been a victim of an offence, we would urge them to report it. You will be supported throughout by specially trained officers, as these two victims have been.”  

Description

A man who sexually abused a child over the course of six years is now behind bars following an investigation by specialist safeguarding detectives in Leeds.

David Lawn, 62, of St Johns Garth, Aberford, began sexually assaulting the victim in the 1990s. 

She then came forward to disclose the abuse as an adult, and in 2021 the Leeds Safeguarding Unit launched a detailed investigation culminating in Lawn being charged with multiple sexual offences.

He went on trial at Leeds Crown Court last month where he was found guilty of all 16 charges including three counts of raping a female under the age of 16.  

On Friday 13 February Lawn was given an extended sentence of 20 years in prison plus one year on license, and he will be added to the sex offenders register for life.  

In a lengthy and extremely powerful victim impact statement, the woman described how the abuse had affected every part of her life – you can read a summary of her words below:

“As a young child, I learned fear long before I learned safety. I should have been learning to read, to play, to trust — instead I was learning how to disappear inside myself, how to make my body small and my voice smaller.  

“As I grew older, the confusion hardened into something heavier. I learned to split myself in two — the girl who smiled and played and went to school, and the girl who carried a secret so heavy it bent her spine.

“As a young adult, I carried the weight of my childhood like an invisible rucksack filled with stones. I was already exhausted, already living a life shaped by survival rather than possibility.  

“Adulthood, so far, has been a long lesson in learning how to live with a nervous system that never learned to rest. I check doors and windows repeatedly, I plan every outing with escape routes. Even in my own home, I am scanning for danger, waiting for it.

“For decades, I lived as two people inside one body — the terrified little girl who learned to freeze, to hide, to survive and the adult who learned to function while carrying wounds no one could see. I wore a mask so well that even I sometimes believed it. But underneath it all, the child inside me was still waiting to be heard.

“This statement is her voice. This process is her truth. This moment is her justice.

“She finally has someone standing up for her. She finally has someone telling the truth she was never allowed to speak. I hope she can look at the woman I am now and feel proud. Proud that I didn’t stay silent. Proud that I fought. Proud that I survived long enough to tell her story.

“And now, for the first time, I know he cannot reach me. That knowledge is a kind of freedom I have never felt before.  

“I cannot change what happened to me. But I can choose what happens next. I can choose to speak, to stand, to reclaim the parts of myself that were taken.  

“I have a voice now. I have truth now. I have strength now.

“She is scared. I am not.”

Detective Constable Christine Walkin, who led the investigation, said:

“Lawn subjected a vulnerable young girl to a campaign of sickening abuse and this has understandably had a significant impact on her life.  

“Following a lengthy investigation we were able to obtain enough evidence to secure an extensive list of charges against Lawn, all of which he has now been convicted of.

“I would like to recognise the immense courage shown by the victim throughout the investigation and court proceedings. I hope the knowledge that Ward will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars will provide some comfort as she works hard to move on with her life.

“I also hope the successful outcome in this case might encourage any victims of similar offences to please come forward and report them to us.  

“We treat all sexual offences, recent or not, extremely seriously. We have specialist officers who can support you through the process and will do everything we can to get justice for you.”

Description

A 65-year-old man has been jailed for 16 years for non-recent sex offences.

Lee Tarry from Garton Road, Richmond Hill in Leeds appeared at Chester Crown Court for a 10 day trial on 6 October 2025. 

He was subsequently found guilty of 10 sexual offences on three victims between 1970 and 1990. Two of the victims were children at the time of the offences taking place.

He then appeared at Chester Crown Court on 2 December to be sentenced to 16 years in prison.

The offences took place in the Cheshire area.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Laura Lee said:

“I’d like to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and supporting a prosecution. I hope seeing Tarry get justice for his abhorrent actions against them helps them in some way.”