Bethany Hill

A man and a woman have been sentenced to life imprisonment for a series of heinous sexual crimes against a child, described by authorities as 'abominable' and 'despicable'. Bethany Hill, 26, from Boulevard in Hull, pleaded guilty to eight offences, including two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, arranging the commission of a child sex offence, and causing the sexual exploitation of a child. Alongside her co-offender, she filmed the abuse inflicted on the victim over a prolonged period.

The court proceedings revealed that the victim was too young to comprehend the abuse, which was deliberately targeted at their vulnerability. Hill was sentenced to life imprisonment, with placement on the sex offenders register for life and a lifelong sexual harm prevention order to safeguard the public from future harm.

Detective Constable Annabel Devall from the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit described the case as profoundly disturbing: 'Hearing of the nature of these offences is something that will no doubt affect every member of society, and the actions of these individuals are appalling; not only affecting the victim, but also their family.' The investigation highlighted the prolonged and systematic nature of the abuse, which has left indelible trauma.

Sentencing occurred on 28 January 2025. Humberside Police, responsible for the prosecution, praised the team's determination in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The victim's mother expressed her devastation in a post-sentencing statement: 'Hill and Burns are vile and cruel. They took my trust and broke it in the most monstrous way by doing something that no person should be capable of. I will never forgive you for what you have done.'