YORKSHIRE RAPIST JAILED FOR MORE THAN 17 YEARS AFTER LURING TEENAGE GIRLS
A double rapist from Bradford who caused “irreparable damage” to two teenage girls has been jailed for more than 17 years.Some details of Craig Sheffield’s crimes cannot be revealed to protect the identities of his two victims, but Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday, March 6 how he plied one girl with alcohol before stripping her naked and pinning her down.
Judge Sophie McKone told the court that Sheffield, 42, had told the girl to be quiet and gagged her mouth with a toy before raping her.
Sheffield, who appeared by prison video link, told the girl not to tell anyone and she kept what the judge described as her “dreadful secret” until a second girl was also raped by Sheffield a few years later.
Again, he picked up the second girl and took her to a room saying he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
The judge told him: “You have caused irreparable damage to these two girls.” She said Sheffield had robbed them of their childhood and still victim-blamed the girls despite his guilty pleas.
She said: “Although you have pleaded guilty you have shown no remorse for what you have done.” Sheffield will have to serve two-thirds of his prison sentence before being released and he will have to comply with a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.
He will also have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life.
The judge said it was apparent from Sheffield’s internet searches that he had sexual interest in children and he had put his “depraved thoughts” into action.
