Latest Offenders Yorkshire

Description

A DJ who systematically groomed and abused girls as young as nine in the late 1990s has been jailed for a further 12 years, on top of his existing 24-year sentence.

Darren Gibson, 56, pleaded guilty in November to 43 counts of child sexual abuse, including eight of rape, while already serving the previous term for similar offences. His adoptive sister and partner, Rebecca Kirton, 41, admitted 14 counts and was given an additional 7 years and 6 months on top of her existing 12-year sentence.

The pair were convicted of 14 similar offences at Leeds Crown Court in November 2024. Media coverage prompted more victims to come forward, leading West Yorkshire Police to launch a new investigation.

At Leeds Crown Court today, they were sentenced for abusing 12 further victims aged between nine and 15. Gibson must serve a minimum of 24 years of his sentence.

Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire & Humberside Julie Moss said: 

"Darren Gibson systematically preyed on young girls over several years, using his position as a DJ at local children's events to target young children and take advantage of trust placed in him by the local community to cover up his criminality.

"Rebecca Kirton was not a passive bystander. She actively facilitated Gibson’s abuse, helped him access his victims and frequently carried out the abhorrent abuse herself.

"Gibson thought only of himself and his own sexual gratification through all of his offending. Both he and Kirton showed complete disregard for the devastating and lasting impact of their actions on very young and clearly vulnerable children.

“The 12 victims in this case have experienced the unthinkable. They were systematically abused when they were far too young to understand what was happening to them, let alone consent. All of them have shown immense bravery in coming forward to report the abuse - the impact of which has not dwindled in the two decades since it took place. I hope today's sentences can finally bring them some sense of justice for the immense and lasting harm they have suffered.

“The CPS will always seek justice for victims of child sexual abuse, no matter how much time has passed.”

Between 1997 and 2004, Gibson targeted victims at children's events where he performed as a DJ, including a 'crisps and pop' night at a local children's club. He also approached other girls in his local area, presenting himself as a trusted figure before subjecting them to sustained sexual abuse, often over multiple years.

Kirton actively facilitated the offending. Much of the abuse occurred at the couple’s home, in Gibson’s car, at performance venues, and elsewhere. He frequently plied victims with alcohol and, on occasion, drugs, and took some to obtain contraception.

Both initially refused to engage with police but later pleaded guilty to all charges.

Description

A dangerous man who attempted to rape a teenager on a bus has been given an extended 11-year prison sentence.

Lewis Melvin, 24, smiled, laughed, and fidgeted as he appeared via video link from HMP Leeds at Bradford Crown Court.

Judge Ahmed Nadim said Melvin showed no remorse for his targeted and brazen attack, deeming him a danger to the public.

He imposed eight years in custody plus three years on license, stating a determinate sentence “would not adequately protect the public.”

The judge told Melvin: “These offences were committed with striking audacity in broad daylight and unashamedly on a public bus, demonstrating your willingness to commit serious sexual violence even when the risk of detection was high.

“This is a very concerning feature of your offending behaviour.”

Melvin, of Owlet Grange in Shipley, was found guilty after a disruptive trial, during which he masturbated at one point.

The court heard the “brazen” attempted rape and multiple sexual assaults on the victim occurred on a public bus in March last year.

In mitigation, Nicholas Leadbeater said: “There is no mention of any other member of the public having seen what took place or having been alarmed by what took place.”

He described Melvin as “a young man with unstable mental health” possibly caused by drug misuse.

Sentencing, Judge Nadim said: “The total lack of insight into your offending I find most troubling.

“You told a probation officer ‘I did what I did’ and suggested that it may have been okay if she was okay with it.

“You have shown no genuine remorse, no understanding of the profound harm and distress you caused, and no appreciation of how your behaviour was criminal and morally wrong.

“This absence of insight is highly relevant.”

Noting Melvin's long-standing mental health issues and history of misusing drugs like cannabis, cocaine, and nitrous oxide, the judge added: “In the light of the pre-sentence report and psychiatric report, and the evidence that I heard at the trial … I find that these matters are of some grave concern to me.

“Firstly, the commission of an offence involving the targeting of a stranger.

“Secondly, the offence was committed in broad daylight on a public bus with you showing no fear of being caught.

“I therefore find you dangerous [and that] you present a serious risk of harm to members of the public.”

He imposed a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a 15-year restraining order, and required Melvin to register as a sex offender.

Description

A Craven man has been jailed for more than 18 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing four girls.
 
Herning Thompson, 82, of Victoria Street, Skipton was arrested in January 2024 after the abuse was reported to North Yorkshire Police.
 
His heinous offending spanned four decades, between 1981 and 2020, when the victims were aged between five and 12, causing immeasurable harm to those he targeted.
 
Following an investigation led by the our Harrogate & Craven Safeguarding Investigation Team, Thompson was charged.
 
He stood trial at Leeds Crown Court , where a jury found him guilty of six counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16; four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching; four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of the body or an object; and two counts of attempted rape of a girl under 13.
 
He was found not guilty of three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, and one count of assaulting a boy under 13 by touching.
 
Thompson appeared at Leeds Crown Court for sentencing today (11 March 2026) where he was ordered by a judge to serve an 18-year jail term, with an extended licence period of 12 months on release. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life.
 
In her victim impact statement, one of the victims described how the sexual abuse has had a profound and lifelong impact on her, causing significant emotional distress and trauma.
 
She explained that what happened to her has deeply undermined her ability to trust others and feel safe around people. She said:

“Although many years have passed, the trauma of what happened has never left me.”

She went on to explain that the impact of the abuse did not end when the incidents stopped, but has continued for decades, affecting her ability to live without fear and anxiety, and still affecting her to this day.
 
Detective Constable Nicky Wareham of North Yorkshire Police’s Safeguarding Investigation Team, who led on the investigation, said:

“This case has been harrowing for everyone involved, and I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of the victims.
 
“Despite the trauma Thompson inflicted, and his attempts to deny his actions and force them through the ordeal of a trial, they stood firm and found the courage to speak out.
 
“Their strength has ensured that a dangerous and predatory individual has finally been held to account and is now exactly where he belongs. I hope that, in seeing justice be served, the victims are able to move forwards with their lives and begin a process of healing.
 
“We will always treat reports of child sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness, no matter when they happened, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to protecting vulnerable children and relentlessly pursuing those who cause them harm.”

Description

A man who sexually abused four children over several years in a series of non-recent sexual offences, as well as sexually assaulting a woman, has been sentenced for 11 years and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Following a two-week trial at Hull Crown Court which concluded last week (Thursday, 4 March 2026), Darren Richardson, 58-years-old of Thompson Avenue in Beverley was found guilty of 11 sexual offences including two counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14, two counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 16, two counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14, two counts of assault on a girl under the age of 13 by touching, indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14, assaulting a boy under the age of 13 by touching, and sexual assault of a woman.

Richardson was first brought to officers’ attention in October 2020 when a man came forward to report that he had been sexually abused by Richardson during the 1990s when he was around just four-years-old. He also explained how he was coming forward now because he had seen Richardson with a young child and did not want the same to happen again.

An investigation was launched by our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, and it was quickly established that the man making the report, along with two other men whom he knew, had also been subject to non-recent sexual abuse at the hands of Richardson over a prolonged period of time.

Following this initial report, detectives conducted numerous enquiries including speaking to witnesses, and obtaining detailed victim accounts to establish the full circumstances around the reports.

These enquiries led to a 12-year-old girl disclosing sexual abuse, and a woman disclosing a sexual assault, naming Richardson as the one responsible.

Richardson was initially arrested on suspicion of five counts of sexual assault against five people and interviewed in January 2021.

Whilst in custody and being questioned, Richardson denied all allegations put to him and refused to admit any sexual interest in children, however, due to the evidence stacked against him, he was subsequently charged with 11 sexual offences and released under investigation.

After pleading not guilty to all offences, a two-week trial was set for Monday, 23 February 2026, concluding on Thursday, 5 March 2026 at Hull Crown Court where he was remanded and sentenced on Friday, 6 March 2026.

Investigating Officer Helen Shackleton, said:

“First and foremost, I would like to commend the men and women who came forward and reported Richardson’s crimes against them when they were so young, some aged between three- and six-years-old when the abuse began.

“It is because of their courage and strength that we were able to build a significant case against Richardson, holding him accountable for his crimes years after they took place.

“Richardson is a child abuser who befriended neighbours or manipulated his adult friends under false pretences in order to gain access to their children and take advantage of them.

“He would gain the adults trust, offering to help and care for their children, and on one occasion even took one of the boys on a trip during the six-week holidays, sexually abusing him in service station toilets.

“Richardson would fake niceties, giving them money, as well as showering them with gifts including clothes, games, and phones, all in a ploy to get them on side in order to appease his own devious sexual perversions.

“He then went on to refuse to admit what he had done, forcing the men, women, and their families through a two-week trial reliving the childhood trauma they experienced all over again in a sadistic ploy to maintain an element of control over them, even years after the offences took place.

“The result we saw in court last week is testament to the bravery of those who came forward, and the dedication of detectives who stacked up the evidence against him ultimately leading him to now spend over a decade behind bars.”

Description

Regarded as one of the most abhorrent crimes in the North East, on December 27, 2005, Peter Voisey abducted a six-year-old girl from her bath in Wallsend, North Tyneside, subjected her to two sexual assaults, and abandoned her naked in a snowy back lane. The attack shocked the local community and the nation.

Voisey was linked to the crime via partial shoe prints on the wet bathroom floor. In 2006, at Newcastle Crown Court, he was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years, with the judge warning he might never be released.

This week, Chronicle Live reported that after his sixth parole review, the 54-year-old was deemed unsafe for release by the Parole Board, which also rejected a move to an open prison.

The Full Story of Peter Voisey: Every Parent's Nightmare

Predator Profile  

Depraved Peter Voisey fit the classic predatory sex offender mold—abused as a child, he became an abuser. He targeted the innocent six-year-old, snatching her from her bath to rape and molest her before dumping her in the cold.

He had a prior conviction for indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl in a leisure centre changing room in 2001. At his 2006 sentencing, his troubled childhood and teen record emerged: at 15, he coerced a young girl into burgling her mother's home, but she eventually broke free.

Voisey knew every alley and shortcut in Willington Quay and Wallsend, using the area for vehicle break-ins and arson.

Criminal Background

Born July 5, 1971, in London, Voisey lived in Bristol before moving to the North East at age four. His mother Alice lived on Savory Road but separated from his tyrannical father Bill; both are deceased. Voisey claimed mistreatment by his father and was placed at Hesley Hall boarding school near Doncaster from ages nine to 15.

His petty crimes escalated during Tyneside visits. He worked in hotels nationwide, as a driver, motor mechanic, and briefly as a pizza delivery operative, but was on benefits at arrest.

2001 Indecent Assault

Four years before the abduction, under the alias Peter Smith, Voisey assaulted a girl in Macclesfield Leisure Centre's changing rooms after stalking others. Living in Crawley Road, Wallsend, he was sentenced to three years at Chester Crown Court in 2002.

Acquittals and Arrests

At 24, using Peter Smith, Voisey was acquitted of indecently assaulting three boys in Hodgkin Park, Newcastle's West End, while living in Scotswood.

In August 2003, he was arrested for assaulting four boys camping in Benridge Park, Blyth, but released due to insufficient evidence.

The Bath Abduction

On December 27, 2005, in Willington Quay, Voisey entered the flat, silenced the bathing girl (whose mother was nearby putting her brother to bed), and drove her away in his red Vauxhall Astra. After 15 minutes of assaults, he left her in a freezing alley near home.

She was found sobbing by Geoffrey Brown on Armstrong Road. He said: "It's this time of year when the memories come flooding back. There was snow on the ground and I couldn't get my head around why she didn't have any clothes on. It was when I wrapped her up and brought her in that she told me a man had taken her out of her bath and took her away.

"I was later told what had actually happened and it makes my stomach churn. She must have gone through hell. It makes you wonder about other people's psyche."

Diary and Motive

Police suspected Voisey was burgling when he saw the girl and acted impulsively. He claimed he was buying cannabis, but friends wouldn't corroborate. His diary entry for December 27 read: "Phew, it's over. Chill now."

Imprisonment 

Convicted of rape, sexual assault, and abduction, Voisey (also known as Peter Smith) received a minimum 10-year sentence. Jurors wept hearing the girl's ordeal; the judge warned of possible lifelong imprisonment.

Recent Parole Denial

In the latest review, the Parole Board summary stated: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public."

Risk factors included instability, relationship difficulties, poor friendships, and substance misuse. Voisey denied sexual attraction to children, but the panel noted his attitudes toward sexual behavior as relevant to risk.

He completed programs and engaged with a psychologist, but maintained innocence, hindering full understanding of his behavior.

Description

Liam Antony Rodgers, 33, of no fixed address, has been sectioned after sexually assaulting a woman and repeatedly stabbing another man in an unprovoked attacked.

Partway through his trial for the sex offences, Rodgers pleaded guilty to sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity.

He also pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent following the assault on a man in January 2024, which he carried out whilst on bail for the sexual assaults. He was originally charged with attempted murder, but the prosecution accepted the lesser plea after the defence prepared psychiatric reports on him.

At York Crown Court on Tuesday (3 March), Rodgers was detained under the Mental Health Act in a secure psychiatric unit, subject to special restrictions that allow doctors to set conditions on his behaviour in the community, including compulsory mental health treatment, and to return him to hospital if concerns arise.

He was also given a lifetime restraining order preventing him from contacting the woman, approaching her, or posting about her on social media.

The judge told Rodgers, “You are not likely to be released for many, many years, if ever". Had he not been mentally ill, he would have received a jail sentence of 16 years the judge told the court.

The brave victim of the sexual assaults reported the abuse to North Yorkshire Police in September 2023, prompting an investigation to be launched.

In a personal statement, the woman described how she was still dealing with the lasting and difficult impact of Rodgers’ actions on her life today.

“I feel disillusioned and very untrusting of those around me now, and I don’t think this will ever change or improve from here,” she said, explaining that “I have just had to adapt to being on constant high alert around others.”

She added: 

“Even as I am writing this now, it casts my mind right back to those days, and I am in a lot of pain recalling these times.”

The victim of the assault also described how, even two years after the attack, he still feels unable to go out alone at night and continues to suffer from nightmares.

He explained how Rodgers had been waiting for him in the corridor of their accommodation before repeatedly stabbing him to the head.

The incident took place on the afternoon of 29 January 2024, when Rodgers launched a sustained attack, striking the victim multiple times before grabbing him in a tight hold and continuing the assault.

Witnesses later said that the way Rodgers carried out the attack made them genuinely believe he intended to kill.

Detective Constable Karen Everitt of North Yorkshire Police, who led the investigation into the sexual assaults, said:

“The victim of these horrific sexual assaults was targeted by Rodgers who is a highly dangerous and manipulative man.

“Throughout the police investigation, she has shown remarkable strength and resilience. Her determination was driven by a desire to ensure that Rodgers could never treat anyone else in the same way again, and that he would finally be held accountable for his actions.

“This has been an extremely long and difficult journey for her, made even harder by the fact that Rodgers refused to take responsibility until the eve of the trial. As a result, she had to endure the full length of the police and CPS processes. Despite this, she has come through it and is now in a much stronger and happier place in her life.

“I hope she feels proud of herself for her courage in bringing Rodgers to justice and for ensuring that the public is now aware of him and his despicable behaviour. This outcome would not have been possible without the extraordinary strength she has shown throughout.”

Commenting on the assault, Investigator Corrina Graham-Merrett of North Yorkshire Police said:

“Rodgers carried out a sudden and extremely violent attack on the victim, giving him no opportunity to defend himself or escape.

“The determination and courage shown by the victim throughout this investigation has been remarkable, especially given the fear and trauma he endured.

“Witnesses were clear that the nature of Rodgers’ actions made them believe he intended to kill, and today’s sentence reflects the gravity of that behaviour. I hope this outcome brings the victim some sense of justice as he continues to rebuild his life.”

Description

A man who groomed a teenage girl and had sex with her despite knowing she was underage has been jailed for seven years.

Shahzad Hussain, 27, of Browsholme Street, Keighley, will serve a further two years on licence after Bradford Crown Court ruled he posed a serious risk to the public. He must register as a sex offender for life and is subject to a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Hussain arranged to meet the girl via social media, lied about his age to hide the gap, and had sex with her on two occasions. He was convicted of six sexual offences, including two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, after a trial last November.

The victim’s father said the effects were “devastating and ongoing”, causing a “marked change in her confidence and personality” and leaving her with “persistent fear and anxiety, disturbed sleep and panic attacks”.

In mitigation, Hussain accepted the jury’s verdict and apologised to the victim and her family. His barrister, John Batchelor, said he recognised “the gravity of his offending”. He was previously of good character.

Sentencing him, Recorder Richard Paige said: “This was deliberate sexual activity with a child arranged through online contact.

“Between the two occasions you were expressly warned that [the victim was underage] and despite that warning you proceeded to meet her again to commit further sexual offences.

“That makes the second occasion more serious than the first.”

He imposed the extended sentence “to reflect dangerousness and the significant risk to members of the public of serious harm”, adding: “I am satisfied that you do pose such a significant risk … and that an extended sentence is necessary for public protection.”

Description

Ryan Bird, from Redcar, raped the child on 1 June 2025 and engaged in sexual activity with her between 18 September 2025 and 18 November 2025.

The 24-year-old exchanged messages on Facebook messenger and Snapchat with the girl detailing how they ‘love’ and ‘miss’ each other and want ‘hugs’.

On Monday 22 December Bird pleaded guilty to rape and engaging in sexual activity with a girl and was remanded in custody.

He appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday 17 February to be sentenced to 10 years and six months with one year additional on licence.

The court granted an indefinite restraining order to protect the victim from Bird and he was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and placed on the sex offenders register.

During the hearing, the court heard how on Monday 17 November 2025 police were called to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

What followed was interviews with the child, her family and other witnesses along with specialist work from the force’s digital forensics unit.

Following this, detectives from Cleveland Police’s child abuse and vulnerable adults team arrested Bird on Tuesday 18 November and he was taken to police custody.

After he was questioned, he was charged on Wednesday 19 November and remanded in custody.

Detective Constable Elliot Shute, from Cleveland Police’s protecting vulnerable people unit, said:

“Bird took advantage of a young child for his own sexual gratification without a thought for the physical and mental abuse that it would bring to her.

“I want to take this opportunity to praise the girl for her bravery in disclosing what had happened to her and that Bird was the offender as well as providing evidence throughout the investigation and court process.

“It goes without saying that what Bird did will have a huge impact on her and her family. I hope knowing he is now in prison will provide some comfort.”

Description

A man who raped and sexually abused a girl over several years has been found guilty of rape following a retrial at Grimsby Crown Court.

Nigel Bull, 55-years-old, of Patrington Haven in East Riding of Yorkshire was charged with 11 sexual offences in October 2023 relating to a series of non-recent rapes and sexual assaults involving two alleged victims, over a period of seven years.

The case went to trial on Monday 2, September 2024 at Hull Crown Court, which lasted seven days. Bull was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault by the jury however a verdict was not reached on three counts of rape.

In the same trial Bull was found not guilty in relation to both offences alleged by a second victim.

Due to the hung jury, the charges Bull faced in relation to the rape offences were subject to a retrial.

The second trial commenced on Monday, 9 February 2026 which lasted seven days resulting in Bull being found guilty of three counts of rape last week (Monday, 16 February 2026). 

Throughout all legal proceedings, including both trials, Bull maintained a not-guilty plea.

Following his appearance in court last week, he was remanded into custody to await sentencing at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday, 17 April 2026.

Officer in the Case Detective Constable Rebecca Davison from our Protecting Vulnerable People unit said:

“I would first like to commend the victim and their admirable courage and bravery in coming forward, and their patience throughout the entire judicial process.

“Bull is a calculated abuser who refused to take responsibility for his horrific crimes. Instead, he forced his victim to endure the trauma of two separate trials, weaponizing the legal system in a final desperate attempt to exert control, making his victim relieve their ordeal twice over.

“I know that the result at court will not take away the trauma and fear suffered by the person he abused, but I hope it brings a sense of justice that he is going to be in jailed for his crimes

“We take all reports of rape and sexual offences extremely seriously, and we will do everything we can to seek justice for victims and hold those responsible for these detestable crimes to account.

“You are in control, and it is completely up to you who you talk to and what help you get, but just know that there is a wide range of independent and criminal support out there.  If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, I urge you please to tell someone."

Description

Two men who preyed on and raped a vulnerable 13-year-old girl in a hotel room have now been sentenced to a combined total of 16 years and seven months behind bars following an appearance at Hull Crown Court on Friday, 30 January 2026.

Riley Smith, 19-years-old of New Street, Louth pleaded not guilty and after a four-day trial which concluded on Friday, 25 July 2025 at Grimsby Crown Court, he was found guilty of joint enterprise rape by a jury and has now been sentenced to seven years behind bars and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Shahram Ibrehemi, 20-years-old of The Crescent, Bridlington pleaded guilty to three counts of rape at an earlier court appearance and has now been sentenced to nine years and seven months behind bars and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Mark Tomlinson who lead the case said:

“We launched our investigation after receiving a report that on Thursday 26 December 2024, a vulnerable 13yearold girl was taken into a hotel room on Anlaby Road in Hull and repeatedly raped by a man later identified as Ibrehemi, while another man, later identified as Smith, kept watch.

“Smith was staying in a hotel room in the city centre and met up with Ibrehemi earlier in the day.  Both men then approached the young girl on Paragon Street several times asking for her phone number. She disclosed her age, yet they repeatedly told her it did not matter.

“They returned to her location on Paragon Street later in the night and saw that she was now highly intoxicated. Exploiting her vulnerabilities, the men, supporting her ability to stand, picked her up and escorted her to the hotel room.

“It was then in the hotel room, Ibrehemi continuously raped the young girl whilst Smith kept a look out and entered the room on multiple occasions telling Ibrehemi to shut the teenage girl up as she was going to get them both caught.

The young girl told us that during their first interaction, the men gave her a phone number in case she wished to contact them. It was this number that enabled us to identify a suspect.”

“Officers spoke with the victim and hotel staff to help identify those involved. One of the key lines of enquiry was obtaining the hotel’s CCTV, which showed the girl being escorted to a room by two men. This footage allowed us to confirm the identities of Ibrehemi and Smith”.

Following police enquiries, Ibrehemi was located and arrested on Tuesday, 14 January 2025. He provided a nocomment interview and was subsequently charged and remanded into custody.

Smith was arrested in Grimsby on 19 March 2025 after evading police for two months. He denied all allegations, but after a sevenday trial was found guilty of joint enterprise rape.

Detective Constable Mark Tomlinson continued:

“During interview, both men denied knowing each other beforehand and showed no remorse for their actions.

“This has been an incredibly traumatic experience for the young girl, particularly having to go through the court process. I want to commend her bravery, it is because of her courage that these two men are now behind bars and unable to subject anyone else to their abhorrent behaviour.

“Whilst it will never take away the trauma she endured on that night, I hope this sentence provides reassurance to victims that we will not only prosecute the offender but anyone that assists or aids a criminal offence will be put before the courts under the joint enterprise act.

“Our main priority will always be with the victims, giving them a voice and working with partners and other agencies to make them feel supported and safeguarded every step of the way. We also continue to take huge steps to reduce re-offending, deter perpetrators, and above all, keep victims safe.”

Description

Teenagers whose courage helped jail a dangerous Kirklees child sex offender for nearly 20 years have described how his appalling abuse has left them violated and broken. 

Kirklees Safeguarding detectives commended the bravery of two now teenage victims following the sentencing of Daniel Garside, aged 40, at Leeds Crown Court today for 20 separate sexual offences including multiple counts of rape. 

He was sentenced to 19 years in prison with a year’s extended licence and must register on the sex offenders register for life.

Garside, of Waltons Heights Liversedge admitted 15 serious sexual offences against one of his victims including rape, attempted rape and causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.  

The offending against her took place between 2020 and 2025 starting when she was a young girl aged under 13.

In a victim impact statement read to Leeds Crown Court, she said his abuse had caused her to suffer depression, confidence issues and left her struggling to form relationships.

She said: “I wish none of this had happened and I could just live my life normally but instead I must live with what happened and the effect it has had on me.  I feel like I’m broken.”

Meanwhile, Garside was also convicted of two sexual assault offences and three of making indecent images of a second victim between the years 2020 and 2023. She was also just a young child when the sexual abuse began.

A victim statement was read to the court in which she said Garside’s actions had left her feeling “violated” and that now even “something as innocent as a friend giving me a hug” made her feel uncomfortable.

Garside’s crimes were brought to police attention in June 2025 when his first victim came forward to disclose the abuse she had suffered.

An investigation was launched by the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit, resulting in him being swiftly arrested

Officers were able to identify the second victim as a result of the investigation.  She later came forward to support the investigation and his prosecution.

DC Angus Whitehead of the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit, said:

“We welcome the sentence handed down to Daniel Garside today by Leeds Crown Court. Garside is a dangerous and manipulative offender who has engaged in a campaign of sexual abuse against some of the most vulnerable in our society. This lengthy prison sentence reflects how egregious Garside was in his offending. 

“I commend the victims for their courage and fortitude throughout the investigation in the face of Garside’s continued dishonesty. I can only hope this result brings them some solace and closure. “

Detective Inspector Paul Greatorex of the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit, added:

“The victims in this appalling case showed tremendous bravery throughout the investigation and court proceedings.  

“Their fortitude in supporting the police and colleagues at the CPS with the investigation and prosecution has resulted in Garside being made to pay for crimes which have had a dreadful and long lasting impact on them both.

“West Yorkshire Police remains dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable among us and holding perpetrators to account, as the detailed and complex investigation mounted by detectives in this case demonstrates. 

“I want to encourage any victims of unreported sexual offences, whether recent or non-recent, to please come forward and report them to us. 

“Our specialist officers will support you through the criminal justice process, and we will thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice.”

Description

A man who raped and sexually abused two children over several years has been jailed today for 18 years and has also been handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, concluding a complex four-year investigation led by detectives in our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.

Paul Tyler, 66-years old of Trinity Road in Bridlington, pleaded guilty to 11 offences including rape of a child under 13, at earlier court hearings, and appeared today (Wednesday, 28 January) at Hull Crown court where he was sentenced.

An investigation was launched into Tyler in August 2022, after a man presented at Bridlington police station reporting that when he was a child he was subjected to multiple rapes over two years, naming Tyler as the one responsible. 

Detectives carried out extensive enquiries into what were quickly established to be complex, non-recent sexual offences, including liaising with colleagues from neighbouring forces, gathering witness and victim impact statements, and collating third-party material to stack up the evidence against him to present to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), leading to Tyler being charged in August 2024. 

In December 2024, he pleaded guilty at a Hull Crown Court hearing to five counts of rape of a boy under 13, and sexual assault of a boy under 13, however sentencing was postponed due to a third-party report we received the month before, claiming that a woman had disclosed non-recent sexual abuse when she was a child, again naming Tyler as the offender. 

Tyler was already in prison serving a 16-sentence that began in 2012 for sexual offences against children in the West Yorkshire area. He remained in prison following his guilty plea and whilst a second investigation was launched. 

Tyler was later charged as part of the second investigation in September 2025, appearing back at Hull Crown Court in November where he entered guilty pleas to two counts of causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, rape of a girl under 13, sexual assault of a girl under 13, and assault by penetration of a girl under 13. 

Following this result, the three years left of his existing 16-year sentence will run concurrently, and the 18-year sentence received today will run consecutively. 

Following his appearance at Hull Crown Court today, investigating officer Detective Constable Clare Gascoigne said:

“I want to first commend the extraordinary bravery shown by the man and woman who came forward and reported Tyler’s offending against them when they were just children. 

“These offences took place many years ago, and coming forward to report abuse suffered as a child requires immense courage. 

“Their strength in speaking out has been vital in bringing this offender to justice, and by doing this, they have not only sought accountability for what was done to them but also helped protect other children. 

“I’d also like to recognise the invaluable support provided by colleagues from one of our neighbouring forces, West Yorkshire Police, and the unwavering dedication from all officers involved in both investigations, along with the support from the CPS throughout the entirety of this protracted investigation into Tyler’s grotesque offending.

“Acknowledging The Blue Door service too, whose advocacy and specialist support gave both the man and woman confidence to engage in the criminal justice process. The role of independent support services such as The Blue Door is crucial in helping victims feel believed, supported and empowered. 

“Non-recent child sexual abuse often goes unreported for decades because of feelings of fear, shame, or worries about not being believed. This case demonstrates that we will always take such allegations seriously, regardless of how much time has passed, and we will investigate them thoroughly and sensitively. 

“Whilst today’s outcome does not take away the pain and suffering the man and woman have endured, I hope it provides them with some reassurance that Tyler will remain in prison for the rest of his life, unable to cause any more harm to children in our communities. 

“We would encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, whether it was six days or six years ago, to come forward and tell someone when you are ready. You will be listened to, supported and taken seriously.” 

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Homeless predator Darlington Asante, 27, posed as a Good Samaritan to help a drunk woman who fell in the street, but preyed on her vulnerability, carrying her to his makeshift shelter on Recreation Place and raping her. 

Judge Robin Mairs sentenced him to nine years in custody with a three-year extended licence, totaling 12 years, and placed him on the sex offender register for life. 

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A man has been sentenced for multiple sexual offences against a child, following the brave victim coming forward to the police to report his abhorrent actions.

James Russell abused his position of being known to the victim, messaging her on a social media platform when she was 15-years-old. He continued to send inappropriate and sexual content for months, asking if the victim 'loved' him and sending photos of his genitalia.

The victim bravely came forward and disclosed what Russell had been sending her.

He was charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.

Today (Friday 16 January), Russell, aged 44, was handed a five-year sentence.

Courageously, Russell's victim shared the impact of his disgusting actions, speaking about the impact it had on her mental health:

"For the 12 months following the abuse it was so hard to be alive. The energy and fight it took just to get through the day was so great that I didn’t want to live anymore. I was so terrified.

"Brushing your teeth, washing your hair, these are activities that we should be able to do. But I just couldn’t do any of them. I couldn’t even make myself a cup of tea. On a bad day, I couldn’t speak or eat. And there were a lot of bad days.

"This kind of abuse is not a subject you can easily talk about. It feels embarrassing. I feel stupid, like I should have known what was happening. I often blame myself for what happened."

Alyshea Sharp, who worked on the case, said:

"Russell abused his position of trust with his victim which has caused her great pain.

"I would like to commend the victim's bravery throughout this whole investigation. It has been extremely difficult for her to recount the actions of Russell, but I hope this sentence today provides her with some comfort knowing Russell is now being held accountable for his actions, and the trauma it has caused her."

Russell, of no fixed abode, initially plead guilty to the counts of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child at Sheffield Crown Court on 17 September 2024. He pleaded not guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, but later changed his plea at the same court on 5 September 2025.

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A man has been jailed for six years after he was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting a girl.

Benjamin Patrick Brayson, 23, sexually abused the youngster when he was also a child, Soheil Khan, prosecuting, told York Crown Court.

Sean Smith, for Brayson, said the defendant was “described as immature emotionally and vulnerable”.

Mr Smith said: “It affects his thinking and motivated his offending behaviour. He is still immature.”

Brayson, of Hambleton Avenue, Thirsk, denied three charges of rape and two of sexual assault, all committed when Brayson was aged 16 or younger.

He was convicted by a jury earlier this year after the girl gave evidence against him.

He was jailed for six years and put on the sex offender register for life. He had no previous convictions.