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21
Mar
Harrogate man jailed for historic rape of young girl
A Harrogate man has been jailed for six years for raping a young girl almost 20 years ago.
Robert Anderson, 38, appeared for sentence at York Crown Court today (March 21) after he was found guilty of raping a girl under 13 years of age.
Anderson, of Bower Street, was about 19 years’ old when he committed the offence some time between September 2005 and August 2006.
Prosecutor Soheil Khan said that Anderson told the victim “not to make a sound” while raping her.
It wasn’t until many years later that the victim, who can’t be named for legal reasons, made disclosures about what happened because she was “reluctant to speak about it or report matters”.
Defence barrister Rukhshanda Hussain said that Anderson, a father-of-two, had previous convictions but nothing for sexual matters.
She said he continued to deny the rape despite being convicted by a jury following a trial.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, condemned Anderson for his “wicked” act.
He added:
It has had an effect on (the victim’s) life.
Mr Morris said he had to take account of the fact that Anderson was a teenager when he raped the girl.
He added:
This was some time ago now and you were a young man, and you were not at the time somebody from a stable background.
You had difficulties in your life and I think I should reduce the sentence to reflect that.
Anderson was jailed for six years and placed on the sex-offenders’ register for life.
Mr Morris commended the bravery of the victim, now an adult, for having the courage to give evidence in court.
He added:
The complainant in this case was one of the most impressive witnesses I’ve seen: it must have taken a lot of courage.
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