(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A man has been jailed for 12 years after being convicted of child rape.
Richard Day, 30, of Jubilee Terrace in Morley, was found guilty by a jury of raping a child under the age of 13.
The offences took place in Kirklees and were first reported to police in March 2021.
'Appalling abuse over a prolonged period of time'
Detective Sergeant Olivia Connor, who led the investigation, said: "We fully appreciate just how difficult it can be for victims of such dreadful offending to come forward and report what they have suffered, and I want to commend the bravery of the survivor in this case.
"Day subjected her to appalling abuse over a prolonged period of time and then put her through the ordeal of a trial.
"A jury has unanimously convicted him for these offences, and we hope the victim can take comfort from that and seeing him sentenced."
Police investigation
Following the victim’s report, safeguarding officers in Kirklees launched a full investigation.
Day was summonsed to court in October 2023 and pleaded not guilty, but was convicted by a jury in June.
He was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court and given a restraining order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
DS Connor said: "We do continue to encourage survivors of sexual offences who may not have come forwards, for whatever reason, to do so.
"Dedicated safeguarding detectives will do all they can to support you and help you secure justice."