A man who groomed and repeatedly raped a schoolgirl two decades ago has been jailed for 15 years.
Paul Richardson, 63, of Rotherham, was sentenced today (21 August) at Sheffield Crown Court after being found guilty of five sexual offences.
The court heard that in 2005, Richardson, then 42, exploited the girl’s troubled home life, grooming her with gifts, alcohol, and affection before raping her at hotels in South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.
The victim, now in her 30s, told investigators from the National Crime Agency (NCA) how Richardson manipulated and overpowered her on several occasions, raping her multiple times and threatening that she would be left with no one if she spoke out.
In 2022, officers from Operation Stovewood – the NCA’s investigation into historic child sexual abuse in Rotherham – traced the victim, who then bravely disclosed the abuse and provided a phone given to her by Richardson as a teenager. Digital evidence, alongside her testimony, was used to build the case.
In addition to the prison sentence, Richardson was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.
NCA senior investigating officer Kath Blain praised the victim’s courage, while the Crown Prosecution Service said Richardson had deliberately exploited her vulnerability for his own sexual gratification.
To date, Operation Stovewood has secured 47 convictions relating to historic abuse in Rotherham.
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