August 2019

Depraved child abuser jailed for 30 years

A Knottingley child rapist has been jailed for 30 years for the horrific abuse of children.

Graham Leslie Howard, 47, of Croft Avenue, who previously lived in York, Scarborough and Darlington was jailed at York Crown Court on 23 August 2019 after being found guilty of 18 charges including:

• Eleven counts of the rape of a child

• Two of indecency with a child

• Three indecent assaults

• Two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual behaviour.

He also faced trial for three offences of cruelty to a child but pleaded guilty to those charges just before the start of his trial.

Howard subjected the young children to “unspeakable, sickening abuse, both sexual and physical”, according to North Yorkshire Police.