Man jailed for 21 years for historic child abuse

A paedophile who sexually abused two young girls in Rotherham has been jailed for 21 years.

Neil King, 51, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday for 17 offences dating back more than 15 years. He was convicted after a trial in July.

King, of Meadow Street in Rotherham, was prosecuted as part of Operation Stovewood, a wider investigation into historic child sex abuse in the town.

The National Crime Agency (NCA), who helped bring the case against him, said King had put his victims through a "horrendous" ordeal.

King began abusing the first victim in the summer of 2008, with his then-girlfriend, Louise Tye, an NCA spokesperson said.

Ms Tye, who had been charged with inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing the neglect or ill treatment of a child, died at the end of last year while awaiting trial alongside King.

On one occasion the girl was accompanied by her best friend, aged around 13 or 14 at the time, and King abused them together, according to prosecutors.

After several months suffering King’s abuse, the first victim managed to evade him for a period of time.

However, he later tracked her down and, in 2010, attacked her at her new address, the NCA spokesperson said.

King used his position of trust to offer both girls gifts, money and sometimes alcohol and drugs, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which also helped bring the case against him, added.

Following the sentencing, NCA senior investigating officer Stuart Cobb said: “Sixteen years ago Neil King subjected two young girls to horrendous sexual abuse. Today he is in prison because of the brave testimonies of the victims and the determination of National Crime Agency officers to seek justice.

“This case demonstrates that it’s never too late to report sexual offences, so I urge anyone who was abused as a child to tell police. Reports will be handled by specially trained officers.”

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