MICHAEL RHODES SENTENCED IN SOWERBY BRIDGE FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In a case that has shocked the community of Sowerby Bridge, a 65-year-old man named Michael Rhodes has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving a minor. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about the abuse inflicted upon a vulnerable teenage girl, which spanned several years and culminated in a rape that took place when the girl was just 16 years old.

Rhodes was apprehended by law enforcement officers at a farm in Sowerby Bridge in July 2012, following the victim’s courageous decision to come forward and disclose the details of her suffering. Her revelations prompted a thorough investigation, leading to Rhodes’s arrest and subsequent charges. During the trial at Bradford Crown Court, Rhodes pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape, avoiding a lengthy trial and facing the full weight of justice.

The prosecution, led by Sophie Drake, outlined the heinous nature of Rhodes’s crimes. It was revealed that Rhodes had sexually assaulted the girl when she was only 16, and in a disturbing gesture of manipulation, left her £150 under her pillow afterward. The abuse reportedly began when Rhodes, who was then an adult, told the young girl he would give her money if she allowed him to touch her breasts. Although she initially refused, Rhodes proceeded to touch her beneath her clothing, kissed her, and licked her breasts, actions that left the girl feeling terrified and confused.

Further details indicated that Rhodes had told the girl she was beautiful and handed her £20, which she used to buy cannabis in an attempt to forget the trauma she was experiencing. The court heard that the victim had begun to drink more frequently and smoke cannabis as a means of coping with the emotional scars inflicted by Rhodes’s abuse. The rape occurred after Rhodes promised her more money if she allowed him to do more to her. Despite her protests and repeated refusals, Rhodes persisted and ultimately committed the assault, leaving her with the same £150 under her pillow afterward.

During the investigation, authorities discovered a floppy disk containing nearly 30 indecent images of children, which Rhodes admitted possessing in December of the previous year. This revelation added another layer of severity to his crimes, highlighting a disturbing pattern of behavior. Rhodes’s defense attorney, Camille Morland, argued that her client had experienced a difficult upbringing, having been in care, and emphasized that he was now remorseful for his actions. She also stated that the victim’s use of cannabis and alcohol was not directly linked to Rhodes’s conduct.

Judge Roger Thomas QC, the Recorder of Bradford, delivered a stern sentence, reflecting the gravity of the offenses. Rhodes was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for the rape, with an additional two and a half years for the indecent assault charges. The possession of child pornography was addressed with a concurrent six-month sentence. Furthermore, the court imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits Rhodes from having unsupervised contact with children. The judge also mandated that Rhodes register as a sex offender with the police for the remainder of his life.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Thomas described the crimes as revealing “something very dark and nasty” about Rhodes’s life, which had only now come to light. He noted that Rhodes, who previously resided in the Pudsey area, had developed a sexual attraction to the girl during a period when she was exploring her boundaries as many adolescents do. The judge emphasized that the offenses were committed against a vulnerable individual and classified the case as particularly serious. Rhodes, who had no previous convictions, was ultimately sentenced to a total of eleven years in prison, reflecting the severity of his actions and the impact on his victim.