December 2010

OAP jailed for raping a girl 30 years ago

AN ELDERLY man has finally ben jailed after raping a girl 30 years ago.

David Tomlinson, 72, has been jailed for nine years for raping a 10-year-old girl in the area.

He lured her to Hessle Foreshore, where he then attacked her.

He has pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to two counts of rape, four counts of gross indecency and nine counts of indecent assault.

Tomlinson, of west Hull, committed the offences between 1971 and 1980.

The pensioner was finally caught after his victim reported him to the police last year.

She had tried to report the sexual assault when she was a child but had not been believed by her mother.

The court heard Tomlinson’s victim “dreaded” the moment she was left alone with him.

He took her to Hessle Foreshore under the pretence of showing her the animals and birds in the woods, but once out of view he assaulted her.

Tomlinson warned her not to tell anyone because she would not be believed.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said: “It altered her life and she started drinking alcohol.

“It had a profound effect on her and she began drinking a bottle of vodka a day and it caused her to lose her job. It has affected her life both as a child and an adult.”

Tomlinson’s barrister Paul Genney told the court his client was “disgusted” with his behaviour.

He said: “He is disgusted now with his behaviour and does not know what came over him at the time.

“He is regarded as a medium to low risk of reoffending due to the passage of time and taking into account his age.

“The consequences and enormity of this is finally coming home to roost.

“He is a senior citizen who is not in the best of health.”

Judge Richardson QC gave Tomlinson credit for his guilty pleas and also reduced his sentence to nine years in prison due to his age.

He is disgusted now with his behaviourand does not know what came over him David Tomlinson’s barrister, Paul Genney