Darren Lee James

A man convicted of raping and sexually abusing a young girl has been sentenced to 15 years in prison at York Crown Court. Darren Lee James, 42, from Thoresby Road in Acomb, York, targeted the vulnerable child while she was out shopping with her family.

The court heard that the girl became separated from her family during the outing in York. James took advantage of the situation by leading her down a dark alleyway beside a shop, where he carried out his first sexual assault on her. Just a few days later, he raped her and committed another serious sexual assault. The offences occurred several years before the trial, though exact dates were not specified in court proceedings.

The victim initially kept the abuse secret out of fear of getting into trouble but later confided in a relative and a social worker. In a police-recorded video played to the jury, the girl expressed her ongoing fear and anger, stating: “I still feel frightened of him.” James and the girl were not related, and the prosecution described the attacks as a sustained incident on a particularly vulnerable complainant.

James denied the charges of rape and two counts of sexual assault but was found guilty by a York jury following a trial last December. Recorder Dapinder Singh QC, sentencing James, highlighted the severity of the crimes and imposed a 15-year custodial sentence. Additionally, James will be subject to one year of supervision by a probation officer upon release, as he is classified as an offender of particular concern. He has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to prevent further offences.

Defence barrister Amanda Johnson addressed the court, noting James’s difficult upbringing, excessive drinking, cannabis dependency, unemployment, and long-standing mental health issues for which he was prescribed antidepressants. She mentioned that his mother remained supportive and that his mental health had recently deteriorated, requesting prison staff be informed of concerns. James had four prior convictions but none for sexual offences and had never served time in prison before. Members of both the victim’s and James’s families attended the sentencing hearing.

The case was reported by the York Press, with court reporting by Megi Rychlikova. North Yorkshire Police were involved in the investigation, leading to James’s arrest and prosecution.