July 2017 ‘Appalling’ jailed for 12 years for raping girl aged four A man who raped a four-year-old girl has been jailed for 12 years. David Oakes’s young victim needed a body map to help her explain to police what he had done to her. Oakes, 27, denied any wrongdoing, but a jury took just 47 minutes to find him guilty of rape of a child under 13, and engaging in sexual activity in front of the child after a trial at Hull Crown Court. He showed no remorse and said “bull****” as he was led away to the cells after being jailed by Judge Mark Bury. Oakes, who the judge said had behaved “appallingly” towards the girl, may have to serve the full sentence unless the parole board decide it is safe to release him, and will face an extra year on licence when he is released. Although he was charged and convicted of two specific offences, and sentenced accordingly, the judge said he found on the evidence it had happened on “more than one occasion”. Outlining the case at the start of the trial, prosecutor Charlotte Baines had told the jury: “When asked how many times this had happened, she said for a few days and it made her feel sad.” When Oakes was arrested and the allegations were put to him, he said he was “shocked” and not responsible for any offences. Earlier, when another adult told Oakes what the victim was saying about him, he said he was “speechless, could not believe it, and was upset and angry at the same time”. The girl was interviewed by police with the aid of an intermediary when she was still aged four. Judge Bury said of the interview: “That account was clearly honest and totally credible.” He told Oakes: “[She] was a bright girl, she was articulate for a four-year-old and gave a clear account of what you did to her. “You were interviewed and you denied it.” He said Oakes had made “bizarre” claims to try to explain what the girl was reporting, and told him: “The jury have seen them for what they were – your account was a fabrication.” Oakes, of New Pasture Walk, Bridlington, must register as a sex offender for life.