Locations
Turnsteads Drive, Cleckheaton, Kirklees, BD19
Description
Three girls have been praised for their bravery as a man was jailed today for the sex offences he committed against them.
Antonio Napolitano, aged 39, of Turnsteads Drive, Cleckheaton, was found guilty on 6 February following a trial at Leeds Crown Court of three counts of assault a girl under 13 by penetration and five counts of assault a girl under 13 by touching.
He appeared again today at Leeds Crown Court where he was given an 18-year extended sentence for the offences that spanned a 10-year period. He has also been added to the Sex Offenders Register for life, been made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which restricts contact with children and a restraining order.
Detective Constable Yvonne Brear, of Kirklees Safeguarding, said:
“Napolitano is a dangerous sexual predator who has preyed on vulnerable young girls.
“One of the victims made a disclosure to a trusted person in 2017 about offences committed against her two years earlier. She then had the further courage to report this to the police. An investigation was carried out but unfortunately at that time we were not able to charge Napolitano with any offences.
“Two further reports were made in January 2025 relating to offences against two other girls. Extensive enquiries were conducted into these crimes and this also included reviewing the previous report made against Napolitano.
“We were able to arrest and charge Napolitano with offences against all three victims within days of these two further victims coming forward. He has been remanded in custody since that time.
“All three girls were under the age of 13 when these offences have been committed against them and they have shown considerable bravery throughout this process. I hope that they, and the wider public, are reassured that Napolitano is now behind bars.
“If anyone has been the victim of child sex abuse, whether recently or in the past, there are specialist child safeguarding units within West Yorkshire Police who will listen and investigate when you feel ready to report.”