Neil Michael Stubbs, 27, of Kingsley Park Road, Harrogate, was sentenced to 14 years in prison at York Crown Court on 15 August 2022 for a series of unforgivable sexual offences against a young girl. The court heard harrowing details of how Stubbs systematically groomed and abused the victim over an extended period, with the judge describing the abuse as a 'catalogue of offending' that had devastating consequences for the victim and her family.
During a four-day trial in April 2022, the jury convicted Stubbs on all 13 charges, which included one count of attempted rape of a child under 13, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual assault, possession of indecent images, and several counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Prosecutor Paul Newcombe explained that some charges, such as sexual assault and causing a child to engage in sexual activity, were specimen counts representing multiple incidents. Stubbs had pestered the victim to send naked photos and on one occasion attempted to rape her, though she managed to kick him away. He confessed to her his 'fantasy of having sex with a virgin' and warned her to keep the abuse secret, telling her to 'take it to her grave'.
Following Stubbs's arrest, North Yorkshire Police seized his mobile phone, uncovering indecent images of children, including naked photos of the victim and Category A material—the most severe classification. Mr Newcombe highlighted this as evidence of Stubbs's 'unhealthy obsession' with children. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, provided a poignant statement in court, detailing how the abuse had 'stripped' her of her childhood and led to severe mental health decline, including suicidal thoughts and two suicide attempts. She described suffering from severe social anxiety, difficulty trusting others, especially men, and enduring what she called 'mental torture'.
The victim's mother echoed these sentiments, stating in court that the impact on the family was 'monumental' and that her daughter would suffer for life. Defence barrister Robert Mochrie noted Stubbs's autism spectrum diagnosis and background of being raised in care, describing him as a 'social loner' with no prior offences, but a doctor's report confirmed this did not reduce his culpability.
Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, rejected any mitigation based on autism, stating Stubbs knew right from wrong and had repeatedly abused the victim despite overwhelming evidence. He criticised Stubbs for subjecting the girl to the ordeal of a trial. In addition to the 14-year custodial sentence, Stubbs must serve half in prison before parole, followed by an extended one-year period on licence as an 'offender of particular concern'. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life and given a 20-year sexual harm prevention order.