June 2015

Paedophile convicted of 20 child rapes jailed for 22 years

A MAN who sexually abused a girl from when she was aged just six-years-old has been jailed for 22 years.

David Church, 43, of Carden Avenue, Halton, was brought to justice following an investigation by Leeds district safeguarding unit.

Church was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after being found guilty at an earlier hearing of 30 offences, including 20 counts of rape.

The court heard the offences started just days after the victim’s sixth birthday in what a judge described as “a campaign of sexual abuse”.

Between the ages of 11 and 17 she was raped on numerous occasions.

She later told a friend who encouraged her to report the abuse to the police.

Church was arrested and given bail with conditions not to contact her but he contacted over the internet and offered her money and gifts. Church was also convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Det Insp Dave Cowley, of Leeds district safeguarding unit, said: “Church was responsible for a prolonged and systematic catalogue of abuse against a vulnerable young girl over a number of years.