Locations
Lower Houses, Huddersfield, HD5
Description
A man who sexually abused young girls in Kirklees has been jailed thanks to the courage of survivors who came forwards to report him.
James Michael Butterworth, aged 83 of Lower Houses in Huddersfield, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today ( Tuesday 16 June) after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences between 2007 and 2017.
Kirklees safeguarding detectives have praised the courage of two survivors who came forwards several years after offending took place to report his sexual abuse of them.
Butterworth, known as Bamba, was jailed for a total of four years for two counts of sexual assault on a female and two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15 .
The offences against the victim took place between the years 2007 and 2010.
He was also sentenced for four offences committed against a second victim.
The offences of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, when the touching was sexual, took place between 2014 and 2017.
All of the offences took place in the Kirklees area and were reported separately by the survivors in the early 2020s, initiating enquiries by specialist safeguarding detectives.
Butterworth was identified as a suspect in both investigations and arrested in July and then August 2021.
He was later summonsed to court in 2025 following a lengthy and detailed investigation.
DC Joanne Hyde of the Kirklees Criminal Exploitation Team, who led the investigation with PC Bailey, said:
“Both survivors in this case have shown genuine bravery and determination in coming forwards and then supporting a prosecution against this man.
“Butterworth is a dangerous and predatory sex offender who took advantage of them when they were both young girls and went on to commit a number of sexual offences against them.
“We know the offences they suffered left them with trauma they have carried for years afterwards, and we hope seeing Butterworth sentenced today will bring them some comfort.
"We continue to urge all victims of sexual offending who may not have come forwards, for whatever reason, to contact us.
All reports are investigated by specialist safeguarding officers who can signpost victims to any support they may need.”