RAPIST JAILED BY CARLISLE COURT FOR ATTACKS ON SCHOOLGIRL
A man was today jailed for 14 years after he was found guilty of multiple counts of raping a schoolgirl.
David John Townsley, 42, of Nursery Place, Whitehaven, had denied six charges of rape and two of indecent assault on the girl.
However, he was found guilty after a trial of all but one of the offences – rape – that he faced.
Carlisle Crown Court heard that the rapes started when the girl – who is now grown up – was 12 years old.
Jailing him this morning, Recorder Simon Medland QC described the offences as “truly appalling.”
He said they had had “an enduring effect” on the victim.
The court heard earlier how Townsley’s sexual relationship with the girl lasted for more than two years until he realised she was getting old enough to tell somebody what was going on, the trial heard.
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Andrea Davidson, of Workington’s public protection unit, said: “She [The victim] was only 12 years old when the abuse began. The sentence handed down today reflects the horror of these offences and, quite rightly, the judge sees prison as the only place for him.
“The victim in this case has shown great courage in coming forward and I hope that she can now move on and try to rebuild her life. I also hope that other victims of sexual abuse can take strength from this woman and have the confidence to contact the police themselves no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.”
September 2012
CUMBRIAN MAN TO BE SENTENCED FOR SCHOOLGIRL RAPE
A 42-year-old man will be sentenced for raping a schoolgirl.
David John Townsley was found guilty of five counts of rape and two indecent assaults following a trial at Carlisle Crown Court.
Townsley, of Nursery Place in Whitehaven, will be sentenced on November 5 after his conviction earlier this week.
He was cleared of one other charge of rape.
The rapes are alleged to have started when the girl – who is now grown up – was 12 years old.
He had denied the claims, saying that she had made them up because she was vindictive.
But prosecutor Peter Warne said that Townsley was “throwing as much mud as possible” at the girl to avoid the true allegations of the abuse.
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