Darwen sex attacker plied girl, 16, with drink and drugs

A man who plied a 16-year-old girl with alcohol and cocaine before sexually assaulting her in the back of his campervan has been jailed.

Lancashire Police said Neville Chapman was 55 when carried out the assault in Darwen in 2019.

Chapman, now 60, of Bridgefield Close, Rishton, was convicted of two counts of sexual assault in June.

He should have been sentenced in August but failed to attend Preston Crown court and fled for several weeks.

Chapman was jailed for a total of 13 years and eight months.

Police said the offences took place after he bought the girl a number of drinks despite knowing she was underage.

He offered her a lift home and gave her cocaine in the campervan.

Chapman stopped the vehicle and got into the back where he sexually assaulted the victim, continuing after she had asked him to stop.

The victim managed to escape and called a friend.

When interviewed by officers, Chapman claimed any sexual activity was consensual.

Judge Graham Knowles KC jailed Chapman for 10 years eight months for the sex offences and he was handed an extended sentence of three years to serve on licence after admitting failing to surrender to bail.

He was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and made subject of a restraining order.

Det Sgt Mark Parrington said: "This was a particularly nasty offence committed against a 16-year-old girl while she was clearly in a vulnerable state.

"This offence has very much had an impact on her, made all the worse by Chapman forcing her to re-live her ordeal during a trial."

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]