Nigel Holmes

Nigel Holmes, a 54-year-old man from West Yorkshire, was convicted at St Albans Crown Court for a series of serious sexual offences committed against vulnerable women in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

The offences occurred while Holmes was employed in the area. He was found guilty of one count of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration, and four additional counts of sexual assault. Judge Michael Kay QC described Holmes as a 'high risk and a dangerous offender' during the sentencing hearing on October 21.

Investigator Stuart Lennon from Hertfordshire Police explained Holmes's modus operandi: 'Holmes preyed on the vulnerable, meeting his victims in pubs and attaching himself to them. He then offered them work so they became indebted to him and continued to integrate himself into their social life outside of the office.' Lennon further noted that Holmes has a history of sexual offending, including a previous victim under the age of 16, underscoring the severity of his predatory behaviour.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Holmes was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from living with or having unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16. The court proceedings highlighted the impact of Holmes's actions on his victims, who were targeted through manipulation and exploitation of their vulnerabilities.