DEREK EVANS FROM RAVENSCLIFFE BRADFORD JAILED FOR 16 YEARS FOR ABUSING FIVE GIRLS IN BRADFORD

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Ravenscliffe and the wider Bradford area, Derek Evans, aged 70, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 16 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing five young girls over a period spanning from 1982 to 1990.

Evans, who resided on Ranelagh Avenue in Ravenscliffe, Bradford, subjected his victims to a series of sickening acts, which included grooming and manipulation through the use of sweets, cigarettes, and cider to gain their trust. His method of abuse was particularly disturbing, involving a twisted game of chance where the girls were made to draw pieces of paper from a hat. Each piece of paper described a different sexual act, which Evans then forced them to perform. This perverted game was part of his own twisted version of what is colloquially known as 'postman’s knock,' where he would tap on a door and demand the girls perform sexual acts corresponding to the number of knocks.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Evans not only attempted to rape one of his victims but also engaged in indecent assaults on all five girls. The court was told that he had also committed acts of indecency with a child on five separate occasions. The jury deliberated and convicted Evans on a total of 13 charges, which included one count of attempted rape, seven counts of indecent assault, and five counts of indecency with a child. However, they were unable to reach a verdict on one allegation of attempted rape, leading Judge David Hatton QC to record a not guilty verdict on that particular charge.

During the trial, it was revealed that the abuse took place over an eight-year period, with three of the victims being under the age of ten and the remaining two under 13 at the time of the offenses. The court heard that Evans had groomed his victims, convincing them that they would not be believed if they disclosed the abuse, which contributed to the delay in reporting the crimes.

In sentencing Evans, Judge Hatton described him as “an offender of particular concern,” emphasizing the severity and depravity of his actions. The judge also made it clear that Evans would not be automatically released after serving half of his sentence, as is typical in many cases. Instead, he could remain incarcerated for the full 16 years if the Parole Board determines that it is unsafe to release him earlier.

The judge condemned Evans’ behavior as “vile,” highlighting that he played these sick games solely for his own sexual gratification. The impact of the abuse on the victims was also a central part of the sentencing. Victim personal statements, submitted by the women now in their 30s and 40s, painted a picture of ongoing trauma. One woman described her struggles with self-confidence, her reliance on alcohol, and her overprotectiveness as a parent. Another victim recounted experiencing flashbacks, turning to alcohol herself, and developing emotional barriers with her partners. A third woman expressed her discomfort with being touched, her emotional numbness, depression, and anxiety. Yet another victim reported suffering from nightmares and having overdosed on antidepressants.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington detailed how Evans had made the girls participate in sexually themed games, including the game of drawing slips of paper from a hat that described sexual acts, and the postman’s knock game, which involved Evans tapping on a door and demanding sexual acts based on the number of knocks. Despite some of the victims confiding in close relatives over the years, Evans was not arrested until last year, after one woman reported the abuse to the police.

Evans’ defense barrister, Kitty Colley, acknowledged the gravity of the case, stating, “It is inevitable that a lengthy custodial sentence must follow.” She also highlighted Evans’ poor health and advanced age, noting that he would not know the date of his release. Colley argued that the passage of time had allowed Evans to rehabilitate himself, pointing out that he had not committed any similar offenses in the nearly three decades since the abuse occurred.

As part of his sentence, Evans is required to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. Additionally, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order has been imposed, which prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16, aiming to prevent any further harm and protect potential future victims.