ROY VARLEY FROM HUNMANBY SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS FOR RAPE IN SCARBOROUGH

In a case that has shocked the local community, Roy Varley, a 57-year-old man from Hunmanby, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 22 years after being convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault and rape involving a young girl in Scarborough. The disturbing case unraveled over several years, revealing a pattern of manipulation and abuse that spanned at least four years.

According to court proceedings, Varley exploited the vulnerability of a young girl by abusing her at various locations within the Scarborough area. The court heard that he often took her to hotels under the false pretense that she was assisting him with his work, a ruse that allowed him to carry out his sinister intentions in private settings. The young victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was subjected to repeated sexual assaults by Varley during this period.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington detailed how Varley used gifts and material incentives to maintain control over the girl. These included giving her money, bracelets, a Blackberry mobile phone, and watches, which served as tokens of affection or bribes to keep her compliant. The court was shown evidence of numerous instances where Varley raped the girl, with the assaults occurring on multiple occasions, some when she was under the age of 13.

Police investigations led to Varley's arrest after officers visited his home and seized his mobile phone. The device contained text messages that revealed his unhealthy obsession and grooming behavior. Despite the evidence, charges were not brought until two years later. Among the messages, Varley expressed affection and desire, with one message reading, ‘Miss you, love you, want to be around you,’ and another calling the girl “hot.” He also attempted to persuade her to meet him again, suggesting, “Come on up tomorrow night and we’ll do what we used to do. Up to you?”

The young girl, who cannot be named publicly, rejected Varley's advances, asserting that she had a boyfriend. The prosecution emphasized that the sexual acts were carried out without her consent, highlighting the manipulative and coercive nature of Varley's actions. Although he admitted to taking the girl to hotels and sharing a bed on many occasions, he denied any sexual contact, claiming their interactions were innocent, involving chatting, relaxing, and listening to music. He insisted that the messages were jokes and that references to her being “hot” were not serious.

Varley faced multiple charges, including 10 counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault. He was also accused of sexually assaulting another girl at a property in Scarborough. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence, denying all allegations. However, the jury found him guilty of eight out of the 13 counts, including two counts of raping a girl when she was under 13 years old. He was acquitted of two counts of raping a girl under 13 and one count of sexual assault involving the other girl.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC sentenced Varley to 22 years in prison, with an additional one-year extension on license, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the impact on the victims. The case has left a lasting scar on the community and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from predators.