BRADFORD RAPIST ANDREW DELSOL SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR DECADES OF HORRIFIC CRIMES
In October 2019, the city of Bradford was shaken by the conviction and sentencing of Andrew Delsol, a man whose long history of violent and sadistic crimes culminated in a life sentence for his most recent offenses.Delsol, aged 55, was described by the presiding judge as possessing a dual personality—charming and intelligent on one side, yet vicious and self-obsessed on the other.
The court determined that he must serve a minimum of nine years before being eligible for parole, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
During the trial at Bradford Crown Court, Delsol was found guilty of 11 criminal charges, including four counts of rape, a Section 18 wounding, living off the earnings of prostitution, two threats to kill, two counts of indecent assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The jury's verdict came after a harrowing two-week trial that exposed the extent of Delsol’s brutality and manipulation.
One of the victims, who courageously testified without the protection of screens, was present in court when Delsol, as he was being taken to the cells, issued a chilling threat: “I’ll murder that bitch.” This statement underscored the ongoing danger he posed.
Delsol is already serving a 13-year extended sentence handed down in 2015 for terrorizing a young mother whom he confined in an attic flat in Bradford.
The first woman to testify recounted her traumatic experiences of being beaten and raped by Delsol during her teenage years when she was working as a sex worker in Bradford.
She described him as a man with a split personality—handsome and seemingly charming, yet fundamentally evil.
She detailed how he forced her to earn around £100 daily, which she was compelled to leave in a drawer for him to collect.
Her account revealed a pattern of extreme violence, including punches, kicks, an attempt to drown her in a bath, and indecent assaults involving a carpet cleaner pole.
She came forward after seeing Delsol’s photograph in the Telegraph & Argus following his 2015 imprisonment.
Her fear that he remains at large and continues to harm young girls motivated her to speak out.
She met Delsol when she was 17 or 18, and their brief relationship was marked by his controlling behavior.
He owned two cars, a TR7 and a BMW, and demanded she buy provocative outfits and high heels to attract clients for sex.
When she discovered she was seeing clients behind his back, Delsol’s rage erupted violently—he appeared with a large tree branch, slapped her, punched her in the stomach, and kicked her in the head.
She described his mental state as increasingly unstable, initially thinking he might be schizophrenic but now believing he is a psychopath.
His violence escalated to the point where he attempted to drown her multiple times, holding her head underwater, and then assaulted her with a carpet cleaner pole before trying to insert her finger into a light bulb socket after removing the bulb.
Her testimony painted a picture of a man who played psychological games, often described as having a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ personality.
The second woman’s account was equally disturbing.
She recounted how Delsol battered her with a hairbrush, stabbed her leg with a screwdriver, poured petrol on her, and threatened to kill her with a lighter.
She was initially attracted to Delsol, describing him as physically striking—standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall and possessing a handsome appearance.
However, his charm was a façade that masked his controlling and violent nature.
She described how his eyes would fill with tears and turn red when he attacked her, often in secluded woodland areas where her screams could not be heard.
Her experiences included being held underwater in a lake, threatened with an axe, and physically assaulted—being punched, kicked, and dragged by her hair.
She described Delsol as “evil and narcissistic,” emphasizing that despite his outward attractiveness, he was fundamentally malevolent.
Her statement reinforced the pattern of ongoing violence and psychological torment inflicted by Delsol, who she said “needs putting away for life” to prevent him from continuing to harm others.
In addition to his recent convictions, Delsol’s criminal history is extensive.
In 2015, he was labeled a dangerous sadist and sentenced to an eight-year term for imprisoning a woman in his attic on Gaythorne Road, West Bowling, Bradford, over four months.
His violent acts included causing her to fear violence, causing her physical injuries, and possessing a martial arts knife illegally.
His history also includes a 2002 jail sentence of eight years at Carlisle Crown Court after he held his teenage girlfriend captive for six days, assaulting her with fists, a knife, and an axe, and threatening to dismember her.
Further back, in 1989, Delsol was sentenced to 15 years at Sheffield Crown Court for brutal offenses against a former Bradford woman, including burning her with a blowtorch, attempting to force her to drink bleach, and forcing her out of a window with a rope around her neck.
During that period, he was also awaiting trial for a sadistic attack on his first victim, which resulted in a 2 years and 9 months sentence for multiple assaults over five years, including skull fractures.
Bradford police and detectives have expressed their concern over Delsol’s dangerous nature.
Detective Constable Andrew Ellis of Bradford District CID stated, “Delsol is clearly a very dangerous man and I hope the sentence he has received today will be of some comfort to his victims.
I would like to thank them for their courage in testifying against someone who subjected them to sexual abuse and violence.
I also hope it encourages other victims of historic sexual offenses to contact their local Safeguarding Unit, whose specially trained officers will investigate every report and provide support for the victims so perpetrators like Delsol can be brought to justice.” Following his 2015 conviction, Delsol was issued a Violent Offender Order by Lancashire Police, a rarely used measure designed to protect women from known violent offenders.
Authorities warned that upon release, he would pose a serious threat to the public, especially young females.
His criminal record also includes a 2002 jail sentence after he held his teenage girlfriend captive, and a 1989 conviction for brutal assaults and attempted murder of a Bradford woman.
His history of violence and sadism spans decades, illustrating a pattern of escalating brutality.
In the aftermath of the sentencing, one of Delsol’s victims issued a heartfelt statement, expressing gratitude to West Yorkshire Police and the jury for their support.
She said, “I would like to thank West Yorkshire Police for the support they have given me throughout this case, and the jury who believed in me.
I am elated at this verdict which means I can move forward with my life, knowing the man who violently and sexually abused me and other women has been given a life sentence.” Judge Burn praised the efforts of Detective Constables Andrew Ellis and Antoinette Williams for their meticulous work on the case, emphasizing the importance of their dedication in securing justice for the victims.
