10 years jail for man who raped schoolgirl

Kevin Dolan, 47 was found guilty by a jury at Bradford Crown Court in November of offences involving two girls while he was babysitting them as a teenager.

He was convicted on one charge of rape, three of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child and appeared yesterday at Leeds Crown Court for sentence.

The jury heard Dolan was only 18 at the time he committed the offences which came to light after he allegedly left a note denying he had done anything to the youngsters years earlier and they were then questioned about it.

The other girl involved was aged only four at the time.

Jailing him, Judge Colin Burn said he had taken account of Dolan’s youth at the time but the offences were serious.

There were similarities in the circumstances of the offences on the two girls and the way he referred to them each as his “special person” which had proved compelling evidence to the jury.

“Anyone who saw them give evidence would conclude they have suffered long lasting and deep seated damage as a result of the offences you perpetrated on them many years ago.”

He said there was no reduction in sentence for him because the offences had only come to light a considerable time afterwards because the complainants had “bottled up or suppressed their trauma for a long period of time.”

A medical report indicated Dolan had a maladaptive personality disorder but was not considered to pose a danger.

Matthew Bean prosecuting said Dolan’s record involved dishonesty offences and he had no other sexual convictions.

Dolan, of Ling Bob Croft, Halifax was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Christopher Tehrani representing him said Dolan had been left in charge of the girls for only brief periods and continued to deny the offences had happened.

He had his own personality problems which would make prison extremely difficult for him.