Child rapist who threatened to drown girl's puppy if she told anyone is jailed

Kenneth Leslie Mantle was jailed yesterday (Thursday), after it was heard in court how he raped a young girl multiple times and used various threats to get her to do what he wanted.

On one occasion, the 62-year-old from Grimsby said he would drown the girl's puppy if she didn't do what he asked or told anyone about his crimes.

Mantle was convicted of five counts of rape of a girl under 16, one of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of gross indecency with a girl under 16.

The crimes occurred in North East Lincolnshire between 1980 and 1992.

Mantle, of Willingham Street, received the lengthy jail sentence after he was found guilty by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court following a four-day trial.

Following the case, Detective Constable Nick Pearce of Humberside Police said: "Mantle is an absolutely loathsome and vile man who showed no care and little regard for the young girl, using violent and heartless threats to terrify her into not telling anyone about the horror that he was putting her through.

“His actions were absolutely incomprehensible; he inflicted untold suffering for his own perverse gratification, continuing even now by making the woman endure the harrowing ordeal of a trial."

DC Pearce added: “However, the bravery the woman in this case has shown has been highly commendable and I want to offer my thanks for her patience and understanding throughout both the investigation process and court proceedings, as they have been long and complex processes.

“Mantle will be behind bars for a long time and unable to commit any further offences, which is largely down to the woman’s courage in coming forward.

“I would encourage anyone if you have been a victim of a sexual offence to please get in touch. We will listen and support you throughout the investigative process and do all that we can to hold those responsible to account and to bring them before the courts.”