DAVID HARRIS FROM WAKEFIELD SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN LEEDS
In April 2021, a disturbing case involving a convicted child sex offender has come to light, highlighting the ongoing trauma inflicted upon victims and the judicial response to such heinous crimes.David Harris, a man previously known to have committed multiple sexual offences, has been subjected to further sentencing after new allegations emerged, prompting a reassessment of his criminal history and the severity of his crimes.
Harris, who has a history of sexual offences against minors, was initially sentenced in 2016 to 22 years in prison after being convicted of six separate offences, including rape, committed against two young girls.
His previous convictions marked him as a dangerous offender, and his case drew significant media attention at the time.
However, recent revelations have shed more light on the extent of his abuse, leading to additional legal action.
Following media coverage of Harris’s past and recent offences, two more victims, who had previously remained silent, decided to come forward and report their experiences to the police.
These disclosures revealed that Harris had subjected the girls to horrific acts of abuse over a period of approximately one year.
The details of his misconduct are deeply disturbing, involving repeated sexual assaults that left lasting scars on the victims' mental health and well-being.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Harris’s abuse inflicted severe trauma on the victims, with both attempting to take their own lives as adults due to the emotional scars.
The court was informed that Harris, who was previously residing in Wakefield, pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to these new allegations.
The charges included two counts of rape of a female under 16 and one count of indecent assault on a female under 16 for the older victim.
For the younger victim, Harris admitted to unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, attempted rape of a girl under 16, and three counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14.
On the day of sentencing, the court was told that Harris’s new sentence would run consecutively to his existing 19-year custodial term.
The judge, Christopher Batty, handed Harris an additional extended sentence, which includes a seven-and-a-half-year custodial period and a three-year extended licence period.
This means Harris will serve a significant amount of time behind bars, with strict supervision upon release.
Prosecutor Julian Jones detailed the horrific nature of Harris’s abuse, recounting that he had assaulted the victims over a span of about a year.
During one particularly disturbing incident, Harris called the younger girl a “b***h” as he forced her to perform a sexual act, and on another occasion, he called her a “stupid cow” before raping her.
The court heard that Harris’s abuse was so severe that he attempted to rape her again during one incident but was stopped only after she screamed repeatedly.
The older victim revealed that she had been physically hit by Harris but did not disclose the sexual abuse until three decades later, when she finally reported the crimes to the police.
Both victims were taken into care following their disclosures, and their stories highlighted the long-lasting impact of Harris’s actions.
Judge Batty emphasized the cruelty of Harris’s conduct, stating, “What you subjected these children to was borne out of your deep and unpleasant lack of respect for them and made you put your need for your perverted sexual gratification above the basic rights of these two girls.” The victims shared heartbreaking accounts of their ongoing struggles with mental health issues, including sleep disturbances, reliance on medication, and suicidal thoughts.
In a statement read aloud in court, the older victim expressed how Harris’s abuse had “ruined” her life, leaving her angry and unable to form healthy relationships.
She described her constant vigilance over her children and grandchildren, watching them “like a hawk,” and admitted to staying awake until three or four in the morning, haunted by memories of her abuse.
She said, “The way he treated me will never leave me.
He was a very cruel man.” The younger victim also provided a poignant statement, revealing that she wakes up screaming from nightmares about Harris.
Her partner has to reassure her that “He’s not here,” and she expressed her fear of Harris being released from prison.
“Being raped is like living hell,” she said, underscoring the profound and lasting trauma inflicted by Harris’s actions.
As part of his sentence, Harris was also subjected to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, designed to protect the public and prevent any further offences.
The case underscores the importance of justice for victims of sexual abuse and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the judiciary to hold offenders accountable, especially those with a history of such crimes.
