David Lawn

David Lawn, a 62-year-old man from St Johns Garth, Aberford, was convicted at Leeds Crown Court for a series of child sex offences committed in the 1990s. The abuse began when the victim was a young child and continued over the course of six years, involving repeated sexual assaults and rapes.

The victim, who endured the abuse silently for decades, came forward as an adult in 2021 to disclose the horrific experiences. This prompted the Leeds Safeguarding Unit of West Yorkshire Police to launch a detailed investigation led by Detective Constable Christine Walkin. The inquiry gathered sufficient evidence to charge Lawn with multiple sexual offences, culminating in a trial last month where he was found guilty on all 16 counts, including three counts of raping a female under the age of 16.

On Friday 13 February 2026, Lawn was sentenced to an extended term of 20 years in prison, followed by one year on licence. He was also added to the sex offenders register for life. The court heard a powerful victim impact statement from the survivor, who described the profound and lasting effects of the abuse on her life.

As a young child, I learned fear long before I learned safety. I should have been learning to read, to play, to trust — instead I was learning how to disappear inside myself, how to make my body small and my voice smaller.

As I grew older, the confusion hardened into something heavier. I learned to split myself in two — the girl who smiled and played and went to school, and the girl who carried a secret so heavy it bent her spine.

This statement is her voice. This process is her truth. This moment is her justice.

Detective Constable Christine Walkin, who led the investigation, commended the victim's courage, stating: Lawn subjected a vulnerable young girl to a campaign of sickening abuse and this has understandably had a significant impact on her life. Following a lengthy investigation we were able to obtain enough evidence to secure an extensive list of charges against Lawn, all of which he has now been convicted of. The case underscores West Yorkshire Police's commitment to pursuing justice for historical sexual offences.