Locations
Jubilee Terrace, Morley, Leeds, LS27
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."