RICHARD GRAVES FROM THOLTHORPE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEENAGER NEAR EASINGWOLD

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Richard Graves, a 39-year-old man from Tholthorpe, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The incident unfolded in May of the previous year, just five months after Graves was released from a 14-year prison sentence for the rape of an eight-year-old girl, a fact that added a layer of gravity to the court proceedings.

According to court reports, Graves had initially established contact with the young girl through an internet chat room in April 2008. Over the following weeks, he bombarded her with more than 1,000 text messages and numerous phone calls, gradually grooming her for what would become a series of heinous acts. The girl, who was from South Yorkshire, eventually ran away from her home on May 12 and contacted Graves, asking him to pick her up from Leeds railway station.

Graves responded by taking her to his secluded lock-up garage located at an abandoned airfield near Easingwold, North Yorkshire, specifically in Tholthorpe. The garage was equipped with a television, a games console, and a mattress inside a van, which served as the setting for the assault. Prosecutor Peter Moulson detailed that Graves had given the girl alcohol inside the van, rendering her unable to resist his advances. Over the course of three days, Graves carried out multiple sexual assaults on the teenager.

The young girl pleaded with Graves to let her go home, but he refused, ominously warning her that if he were to go to prison, he would come and find her after his release. The situation came to a head on May 15 when police officers stopped Graves’ van near the airfield and discovered the girl inside. She was rescued and taken into custody, prompting a police investigation.

During police interviews, Graves admitted to grooming the girl, abducting her, and assaulting her sexually after giving her alcohol. He also acknowledged that he had lied about his name, claiming it was Paul, during their interactions. Graves was charged with multiple offenses, including grooming, abduction, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of sexual touching.

Defense lawyer Nicholas Barker acknowledged the severity of Graves’ actions, stating, “Given the nature of these offences, set against the background of his previous offending, it would be untenable of me to mitigate that there was not a risk of serious harm.”

Judge Brian Forster QC sentenced Graves to an indefinite term for public protection, emphasizing the seriousness of the crimes and the need to protect the public. The judge specified that Graves would serve a minimum of six and a half years before being eligible for parole, reflecting the gravity of his repeated offenses and the danger he poses to society.