DAVID SAYNOR'S HORRIFIC ABUSE IN LINCOLN AND ROTHERHAM REVEALED

A man named David Saynor has been convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving the grooming and sexual abuse of teenage girls, crimes that took place in the towns of Lincoln and Rotherham. This disturbing case was uncovered through an extensive investigation conducted by officers from the National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood, which has been probing allegations of child abuse in Rotherham dating back to 1997.

Saynor, aged 76 at the time of his arrest, was a resident of Rotherham during the period when these offenses occurred. His criminal activities spanned from the late 2000s into the early 2010s, during which he exploited his position as a limousine company owner to target vulnerable young girls. His modus operandi involved taking his victims on rides in his luxury vehicles, often providing them with alcohol, and encouraging them to undress or dance for him. In some instances, these encounters escalated to rape or sexual assault.

The victims ranged in age from 12 to 18 years old at the time of the abuse. Many of these girls were either picked up from their schools or care homes in Rotherham, sometimes in his stretched Hummer limousine, and taken to various locations around the town. Others were simply driven around the area for his own gratification. It was common for Saynor to give the girls money, which they used for cigarettes, food, or occasionally drugs. He actively encouraged them to call him if they needed a ride, often instructing them to bring friends along for the trips.

One particularly disturbing incident involved a young girl, only 12 or 13 years old, whom Saynor picked up and then took to his limousine yard. There, he committed a rape in an office building stored on the premises. This case was part of a pattern of repeated abuse, with one victim recounting that she was assaulted multiple times over a two-year period when she was 14 and 15. She described being picked up in her school uniform along with other girls, being given alcohol, cigarettes, and money. On one occasion, she was raped alone in the back of the limousine, after which Saynor threatened to harm her family if she disclosed what had happened.

Another victim, a 16-year-old girl in care, was initially employed by Saynor to distribute leaflets for his limousine business. Her employment was a guise for further exploitation. She was driven to an unfamiliar area of Sheffield and told that she must perform a sexual act on him or be left stranded miles from home with no way to return. This coercive tactic exemplifies the manipulative and predatory nature of Saynor’s conduct.

Saynor’s arrest was carried out by the NCA in 2020, following numerous victim testimonies that identified him as the perpetrator. After a five-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court, he was found guilty of 15 charges related to eight different victims. The court has scheduled his sentencing for August 15.

Stuart Cobb, Senior Investigating Officer for the NCA, emphasized the manipulative tactics used by Saynor, stating, “Saynor used his limousine company as a front for his grooming of teenage girls, gaining their trust and then abusing them. He was a manipulative predator who purposefully sought out those who were vulnerable or from troubled backgrounds, giving them gifts of money or alcohol to gain their trust. But this would often turn to intimidation and threats when girls went against his wishes.”

Cobb also paid tribute to the victims, acknowledging their courage in coming forward after many years. He expressed hope that the convictions serve as a message of justice and deterrence. The investigation, part of the largest of its kind in the UK, has identified over 1,150 potential victims, with more than 50 ongoing inquiries as part of Operation Stovewood.

Furthermore, Cobb highlighted the importance of collaboration with various agencies, including the Crown Prosecution Service, South Yorkshire Police, NHS Trauma Resilience, and the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser network, whose support has been crucial in ensuring the victims’ voices are heard and justice is pursued.

Sam Thompson, a Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, described Saynor’s grooming and coercive tactics as both cruel and manipulative. He emphasized the lifelong trauma such abuse can cause and praised the victims for their bravery in testifying. Thompson reaffirmed the CPS’s commitment to relentlessly pursue justice for victims of child sexual exploitation and encouraged others who have suffered similar abuse to come forward, regardless of how much time has passed.