SMIRKING FORMER CHURCH MINIVAN DRIVER JAILED FOR RAPING WOMAN
A former church minibus driver with a smirk on his face has been sentenced to ten years in prison for raping a vulnerable woman at his home in Bradford.Cyril Holmes, now 70, showed no remorse for his crime, despite being convicted by a jury in February.
At Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday, it was revealed that Holmes, who was 66 when the offense occurred, had taken indecent photographs of the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, after walking with her to his residence.
Prosecutor Brian Russell indicated that Holmes then laid her on the floor and assaulted her sexually.
The impact of the rape on the victim and her family was described by Mr Russell as devastating.
Holmes' defense lawyer, Sheila Whitehead, characterized him as a solitary individual and stated that he continued to deny responsibility and demonstrate no remorse.
She appealed for a lighter sentence, citing Holmes' health problems, and asked the judge, Recorder Andrew Haslam KC, to impose the shortest possible term.
Sentencing Holmes via a video link, the judge declared: “You claimed you had no sexual interest in the complainant at the time and that no sexual act took place.
You repeated this during your trial, but the jury did not believe you.” Holmes of Peverell Close, Bradford, will be required to serve a minimum of two-thirds of his sentence and will be subject to lifelong registration as a sex offender.
