PAUL TYLER'S HORRIFIC CRIME SPREE IN BRIDLINGTON: VICTIMS AND JUSTICE SERVED

In September 2012, the criminal case against Paul Tyler, a man from Bridlington, took a significant turn as he sought to have his prison sentence reduced following a series of heinous sex offenses committed over more than a decade. Tyler, aged 52 at the time, was convicted of a disturbing array of crimes that targeted vulnerable individuals, including children and adults with learning difficulties, in and around Bridlington.

His sentencing in the previous month resulted in a 16-year prison term, a punishment that reflected the severity and duration of his criminal activities. The offenses included the sexual abuse of a 30-year-old man with learning difficulties, three boys aged 17, 15, and 13, and a young girl aged just 10. Tyler believed that under the government’s early release scheme, which was designed to alleviate prison overcrowding, he would serve only half of his sentence—eight years. However, he was dismayed to discover that this scheme did not apply to his case, as it was limited to more recent offenders.

On September 14, at Hull Crown Court, Tyler, who was previously residing on Haslemere Avenue in Bridlington, appeared to appeal the length of his sentence. His appeal focused on one particular charge of rape that occurred before 2004. Under the original sentencing, he was to serve 12 years for that offense, with an eight-year minimum, but he argued for a reduction to align with the other charges, which would have meant serving only ten years instead of twelve. During the proceedings, Tyler’s legal team argued that he had been misled about his potential release period, believing he would only serve eight years.

The case took a dramatic turn when Tyler, after initially denying some charges, changed his plea to guilty on the third day of his trial. He admitted to a total of 22 offenses, including seven counts of child rape, three counts of rape of an adult, indecent assault on an adult, sexual activity with an adult, sexual activity with a child, sexual assault on a child, and possession of extreme pornography. The plea was made under the understanding that he would serve an eight-year sentence. However, during the court hearing, it was revealed that one of the rapes he admitted to had occurred before 2003, prior to the implementation of new sentencing guidelines, which affected his eligibility for early release.

Judge Simon Jack acknowledged the oversight that led to Tyler’s mistaken belief about his release date. He explained that had the mistake been identified earlier, Tyler might have pleaded differently or offered a different plea, which could have resulted in a different sentencing outcome. The judge expressed that this oversight created a sense of injustice for Tyler, who suffers from cancer, and ordered that his sentence for the pre-2003 rape be adjusted to match the others, effectively extending his time in prison.

Earlier in August 2012, Tyler’s criminal activities had come to light when staff at East Riding College in Bridlington noticed his suspicious behavior. Tyler had been grooming students outside the college, often pretending to recruit them for selling pornographic DVDs. He would lure victims into his van, a white vehicle with blacked-out windows, where he would commit sexual offenses. His reign of terror lasted for approximately 11 years until staff observed his van and contacted the police. Detective Constable Nicky Grunning described Tyler as a highly dangerous sexual predator, emphasizing that there could be more victims yet to come forward.

Tyler’s modus operandi involved grooming some victims by offering them work or gifts, then coercing or threatening them into silence. Some victims, including a 30-year-old man with learning difficulties, three teenage boys aged 17, 15, and 13, and a 10-year-old girl, were targeted through social media platforms like Facebook. One of the victims, a 17-year-old boy, confided in teachers that Tyler was forcing him to do things against his will, and expressed a desire for the abuse to stop. Others recounted how Tyler would pick them up in his van, lock the doors, and abuse them, often offering money or using threats to ensure their silence.

The investigation uncovered that Tyler had paid a 10-year-old girl £50 to keep quiet after abusing her. His wife, upon searching his belongings, found disturbing conversations on Facebook with two boys, revealing further evidence of his predatory behavior. Tyler had also sexually assaulted a boy in a field and paid him £10 to remain silent. Threats of violence and harm to his victims’ families were used to intimidate them from speaking out.

Detectives believe Tyler’s offending spanned decades, and they suspect there are additional victims who have yet to come forward. Detective Constable Grunning praised the bravery of those who had already spoken out, acknowledging the profound and lasting impact of Tyler’s abuse on his victims. Tyler’s health was also a concern, as he was reported to be suffering from cancer at the time of sentencing. Despite his illness, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Overall, the case highlights the extensive and calculated nature of Tyler’s crimes, the failure of initial legal assumptions regarding his sentence, and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to uncover and prevent further abuse. The community of Bridlington remains vigilant, and authorities continue to encourage victims to come forward, emphasizing the importance of justice and protection for vulnerable individuals.