February 2013 Grimsby Victim Praises CPS The mother of a victim of sexual violence has praised the Crown Prosecution Service for securing a conviction against their attacker. Darren Gray was found guilty of twelve counts of indecent assault, three counts of rape, four counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of attempt rape and one count of gross indecency. Darren Gray was sentenced to 18 and a half years imprisonment on 3 January 2012 The mother of his victim said: I cant praise the people involved in our case enough, particularly the people that we spoke to directly. They all went above and beyond the call of duty in handling our case and the sensitivities of it. Id especially like to thank the prosecutors, ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Adviser) and the police. Addressing the prosecution team (CPS and police) directly in her letter she said: We will be indebted to you and your team.  No words can suffice my sincere gratitude. Thank You The officer in the case, Detective Sergeant Andy Drakes, also added thanks to the prosecutor for professionalism, dedication and attention to detail which stood out throughout. I have no doubt that the presentation of this case at court was a significant factor in the successful outcome. Martin Goldman, who leads the CPS in Yorkshire and Humberside said: To have the mother of a victim think to thank us for our work is a great honour. I would like to add my own thanks to the team of staff including lawyers, paralegal officers, witness care officers and everyone else who worked behind the scenes in this case and every case to ensure victims are supported and their evidence is presented to the court in the most professional manner. I hope that securing such a sentence against their attacker has brought some degree of comfort to them and allowed them to begin to think about their own future. Id also like to highlight the strong relationship we have with our partners in criminal justice particularly with Humberside Police as demonstrated in this case. It is true partnership working which allows us all to achieve our full potential and deliver the highest possible level of service to victims, witnesses and wider society.