DAVID LITTLEWOOD CAUGHT IN HULL AFTER 31 YEARS OF EVADING JUSTICE FOR CHILD SEX CRIME

In a significant breakthrough for cold case investigations, David Littlewood, a man from Hull, has been finally apprehended and sentenced for a heinous child sex assault that occurred over three decades ago. The crime took place on July 9, 1979, when Littlewood, then a young man, abducted a nine-year-old girl while she was riding her bike near a field between Ennerdale and the River Hull.

According to reports, Littlewood forcibly pulled the young girl off her bicycle as she was on her way to feed horses in the area. He then subjected her to an indecent assault at knifepoint, threatening to kill her if she dared to reveal what had happened. The trauma of that day haunted the victim for years, but it was only recently that justice was finally served.

More than 31 years after the attack, Humberside Police’s dedicated cold case team reopened the investigation. Their efforts were fueled by advances in forensic science, particularly DNA analysis. Detectives revisited the original crime scene and collected evidence, which eventually led to a match with Littlewood’s DNA. It was revealed that he had been registered on the DNA database since July 2009, following previous sex offences.

Further investigation uncovered disturbing material on Littlewood’s computer, including approximately 17,000 indecent images of children aged between two and ten. Of these, around 3,000 were classified as the most serious level of child exploitation. Police also discovered a disturbing video he had filmed in the 1990s, depicting two 10-year-old girls whom he had intoxicated with cider. This evidence painted a clear picture of his ongoing predatory behavior.

Littlewood, a father of four, was brought before Hull Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including kidnapping, indecent assault, and possession and creation of child pornography. The court heard that he had attempted to conceal his identity during the attack by wearing a crash helmet and covering his hands with plastic bags. The victim, now an adult, described her experience in court, stating, “I went across the road on my own and I fed the horses, and when I came out of the field, this man stopped me and told me to get off my bike. I said ‘No’. He pulled a knife out of his pocket and threatened to stab me if I didn’t do as I was told. But all that went through my mind was that my dad was going to kill me for going across that road into the field on my own. I didn’t know what he was doing but I knew it was wrong.”

Following the guilty plea, Judge John Dowse sentenced Littlewood to 10 years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes. The judge commented on the case, stating, “You have, to say the least, an unhealthy appetite in relation to young girls. This was clearly a planned attack. She must have been terrified.”

During the investigation, authorities conducted extensive house-to-house inquiries across Hull, questioning numerous young bikers and residents. The police believed that Littlewood may have fled the scene on a motorbike, and at one point, a reward of £100 was offered by local businessmen to aid in his capture. Despite his evasion, Littlewood remained living in Hull, residing at his address in Marshington Close, West Hull, for the past 20 years. He worked as a labourer at various sites throughout the area.

Detective Superintendent Dena Fleming, who led the investigation, expressed her thoughts on the case, saying, “He took away her childhood, gave her fears no one should have to experience, and ruined her adult life as well.” The case underscores the importance of persistent police work and technological advancements in bringing long-sought justice for victims of such heinous crimes.