RYAN CLARKSON

A 26-year-old man has been found guilty of 13 child sex offences following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Ryan Clarkson committed the serious sex offences when he was aged between 10 and 18, with his behaviour escalating from sexual touching to rape.

An investigation into the offences was launched in 2022 after multiple survivors of Clarkson’s abuse came forward, which led to him being charged with a total of 20 offences, including six counts of raping a child under 13 and three of rape.

He was also charged with two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13, six counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13, two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, and one count of sexual activity with a child.

Clarkson, of Swain Court, Northampton, stood trial at Leicester Crown Court after denying all charges, but last Monday (December 8), the jury found him guilty of 13 offences, all of which were committed when he was aged between 10 and 14.

He was convicted of six counts of raping of a child under 13 years, two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13 years, four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 years and one count of sexual activity with a child.

However, the jury found him not guilty of seven further offences – two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 years, three counts of rape and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.

These alleged offences took place when Clarkson was aged between 10 and 18.