‘Dangerous predator’ from Doncaster who raped a child and ‘ruined the life’ of a victim has been jailed

Lee Grant, 45, of Junction Road, Stainforth, pleaded not guilty to an array of offences, including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault on a girl, prompting a three-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court earlier this year.

Some of the offences are non-recent, having taken place between 1993 and 1995 and in the early 2000s, with others taking place within the past five years.

The bravery of one of Grant's victims in telling police about his crimes led to other victims coming forward.

Following the lengthy and complex investigation a jury found him guilty of 10 of the 11 offences he was charged with.

After being remanded in custody, Grant was sentenced for his crimes on Friday (Sept 6) and jailed for 19 years.

The offences he was convicted of include two counts of rape of a girl aged 13 to 15, five counts of sexually assaulting a woman, one count of raping a woman and two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14.

Detective Constable Leanne Daffern, who was the officer in charge of this case, said: "The courage shown by all of Grant's victims in telling us about what happened to them has led to a dangerous predator being put behind bars.

"I really want to commend them for coming forward and speaking to us about what must have been an incredibly traumatic experience.

"One of Grant's victims, explained how his offending ruined her life and how she has spent years struggling to come to terms with what happened to her as a child.

"She felt shame and disgust and he robbed the victim of her innocent childhood years, leading to mental health problems which have continued into her adult life.

"To add further insult, Grant failed to take any responsibility for his crimes and forced his victims to endure a three-week trial and relive the nightmares that have haunted them for years.

"All of Grant's victims have been supported by specialist officers throughout this process and I hope the passing of this sentence gives them some sort of closure and allows them to move on from this horrendous ordeal.

"I also hope it shows our commitment to investigating sexual abuse and assaults regardless of when they have taken place.

"It is never too late to report a sexual offence and if you have been a victim or you know someone who has been a victim of this crime, please know that we are here to listen to you and support you through every step of the process."

Grant was also found not guilty of one count of rape between 2003 and 2004.