A resident of Huddersfield has been handed a ten-year prison sentence for repeatedly engaging in severe sexual assault against a child.
On Tuesday, November 14, David Terrance Harvey, a 38-year-old from Huddersfield, received his sentence at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of five rape offences.
Harvey, who committed the offences between 1999 and 2003, was sentenced to ten years in prison. The crimes began when the male victim was a boy under the age of 10, and Harvey was a teenager. The incidents were reported to the police in 2018, prompting a lengthy investigation by specialized child safeguarding detectives in Kirklees Police.
Although Harvey was acquitted of sexual offences against a second victim, he is required to register on the Child Sexual Offences register.
DC Ayesha Mahmood of the Kirklees District Child Protection Unit, said: “We welcome the sentencing of Harvey for what were extremely serious sexual offences committed against a then very young and vulnerable victim who was in no place to resist him
“This case again demonstrates that even when offending takes place many years ago, police will always investigate and do everything possible to seek justice to young victims.
“Those who come forward, make reports and then support prosecutions show true courage. It is through their strength and desire for justice that people like Harvey can be brought before the courts.
“We continue to urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual offending to come forward and report it, no matter when it took place.
“All reports are investigated by specialist officers who can also work with partners to help victims access the support they might need.”
