JAMES KENDRICK OF DRIFFIELD SENTENCED FOR 31 YEARS OF CHILD SEX ABUSE IN HORRIFIC CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Driffield, James Kendrick, a 63-year-old heating engineer, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of more than three decades. Kendrick's crimes, which involved the sexual abuse of multiple young children, first came to light in 2008 when one victim, seeking professional help, decided to report the abuse to authorities.

Following this initial disclosure, police investigations uncovered additional victims, bringing the total number of those affected to four. The offenses ranged from indecent assaults to multiple rapes, with some of the abuse occurring when the victims were as young as three years old. The crimes stretched from 1957 to 1989, marking a horrifying 31-year period during which Kendrick preyed on innocent children.

James Kendrick's criminal activities spanned a significant portion of his life, beginning when he was just 11 years old. Over the years, he continued to target different children, with the youngest victim being only three. The severity and duration of his offending prompted a lengthy trial at Hull Crown Court, where Kendrick faced 21 counts of serious sexual offenses. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts, with 19 of these verdicts being unanimous.

During the sentencing hearing, Recorder Graham Hyland QC addressed Kendrick directly, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes. He stated, “In assessing the length of the sentence I have to take into account the age of the offences and that you have not offended since 1989. You have been convicted by a jury of 21 counts of some very serious sex offences. Some of the offences were committed when you were 11 and continued on to 1989 when you were 42. It is 31 years of gross sexual conduct on innocent victims who were all very young. One was just three years old.”

Recorder Hyland QC further highlighted the psychological damage inflicted upon the victims, describing Kendrick’s actions as “vile and wicked offending which destroyed their childhood.” He underscored the seriousness of the crimes, stating, “All the offences are grave and deserve severe punishment.”

Details of Kendrick’s offenses reveal the extent of his depravity. He raped a four-year-old boy twice and committed three indecent assaults on him. Additionally, he indecently assaulted a six-year-old girl five times and a four-year-old girl on two separate occasions. The most disturbing aspect of his crimes involved raping a three-year-old girl six times, along with four additional indecent assaults on her. These acts represent some of the most egregious violations of innocence and trust.

Throughout the case, Detective Constable Helen Penny was commended by Recorder Hyland QC for her diligent work in bringing the case to justice. She remarked, “One victim complained in 2008. She felt she had to do something about it. These people have had horrific lives, due to what he has done. After all that, he has then put them through the ordeal of making them repeat the most horrific experiences anyone could ever imagine in open court. The victims have been extremely brave. Hopefully, they can now have some closure.”

Detective Inspector Nigel Sawyer also expressed his condemnation of Kendrick’s actions, stating, “Some of the most repulsive and vile acts of sexual assault were committed against children by this man. I would sincerely like to praise each and every one of the victims for reporting their offences.”

James Kendrick’s case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child sexual abuse and the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community awareness in protecting vulnerable children from predators.