ANDREW RANYARD FROM EAST HALTON JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING SCOUT GIRL IN GRIMSBY AND NEIGHBOURING AREAS

In December 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Andrew Ranyard, a man from East Halton, who was convicted of serious sexual offences against a young girl. Ranyard, aged 38 and residing on College Road in East Halton, had previously lived in the nearby towns of Grimsby, Immingham, and Cleethorpes. His actions, which spanned several months, involved grooming and abusing a schoolgirl, exploiting his trusted position as a scout leader within the local community.

Prosecutors detailed how Ranyard, who was involved in organizing community activities such as pool, darts, and dominoes at a local pub, used his role as a scout leader to manipulate the girl. The court heard that he became increasingly possessive and controlling over her, orchestrating situations where he could carry out his abusive acts. This manipulation included taking her to various locations, including hotels and secluded spots, in his Corsa car, where sexual activities took place. The abuse reportedly occurred at least five times a week over a period of six or seven months.

One particularly disturbing incident involved Ranyard taking the girl after a go-karting session to a scout hut, where he engaged in sexual activity with her on the kitchen table. Additional sexual encounters allegedly happened at the New Holland scout hut. Throughout this period, Ranyard's controlling behavior intensified, with frequent phone calls and text messages to the victim, further exerting his dominance over her.

During the trial, Ranyard denied seven charges but was convicted by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court of three counts. The jury found him guilty of two counts of multiple indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child. He was acquitted of three charges of rape and one of assault by penetration. The prosecution, led by Louise Reevell, emphasized Ranyard’s active involvement in the community and his role as a scout leader, which he exploited to gain the girl’s trust.

Following his arrest, Ranyard initially denied the allegations but later admitted to having sex with the girl on one occasion after she turned 16. The victim provided a heartfelt statement, revealing that she had suffered panic attacks, anxiety, depression, stomach pains, trauma, and relationship issues as a direct result of the abuse. She described herself as once being a confident individual but now feeling like a recluse with low self-esteem, blaming herself for what happened.

In mitigation, Jeremy Lindsay highlighted that Ranyard had no prior convictions, was employed at the time, and had disabilities. He also noted that there had been no further sexual offending. However, the court, presided over by Recorder Peter Makepeace QC, emphasized the gravity of the offenses. The judge stated that Ranyard had befriended the girl, becoming increasingly possessive and controlling, and had manipulated his trusted position as a scout leader to carry out the abuse over several months.

As a result of his actions, Ranyard was sentenced to six years in prison. Additionally, he was subjected to an indefinite restraining order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The court’s decision underscored the betrayal of trust and the calculated nature of his offending, which caused significant trauma to the victim and her family.