DAVID SHAW FROM BATLEY AND LIGHTCLIFFE SENTENCED FOR LIFE AFTER HORRIFIC SEXUAL OFFENSES IN HALIFAX AND HUDDERSFIELD

In a case that has shocked the communities of Batley, Lightcliffe, Halifax, and Huddersfield, David Shaw, aged 28, was handed a life sentence yesterday after being convicted of multiple heinous sexual crimes. Shaw, who resides on Chinewood Avenue in Batley, admitted to sexually assaulting and raping a 15-year-old girl in a park located in Lightcliffe. Additionally, he was found guilty of raping a woman in her own home in Huddersfield, a crime he committed after his initial arrest.

The Bradford Crown Court heard detailed accounts of Shaw’s brutal attack on the teenage girl, which took place on November 14, 2002, in the parkland near Nunlea Royd. The court was told that Shaw approached the girl, who was then a minor, while they were walking together through the park. Initially, Shaw denied any involvement, leading to his release on bail while awaiting trial. However, during this period, he committed a further assault, raping a woman in her residence in Huddersfield in May 2003.

When the case finally went to trial, Shaw admitted to raping the teenage girl but denied the allegations involving the woman in Huddersfield. Prosecutor David Kelly provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the assault. He explained that the girl, whose identity is protected by law, had been drinking at a friend’s flat with Shaw before they left together. The prosecution described how Shaw pushed the girl at a metal gate, then began kissing her. Despite her attempts to resist, Shaw forcefully grabbed her, threw her to the ground, and threatened to kill her if she made any noise, causing her to fear he might use a weapon against her.

Mr. Kelly recounted that Shaw then forcibly pulled down her pants, despite her protests and pleas for him to stop. The girl was crying and begging him to cease his actions, but Shaw responded with threats, telling her to stop crying or he would kill her. He then instructed her to sit down, and when she complied, he pulled her pants down again, touched her private parts, and proceeded to rape her. The court was told that the girl made it clear she was not consenting, and Shaw’s guilty plea acknowledged his awareness of her lack of consent.

Following the assault, Shaw pulled up his trousers and discarded the girl’s mobile phone twice, telling her not to tell anyone and reiterating his threat to kill her if she did. The girl returned home and confided in her mother, although she was hesitant, fearing it would break her heart to disclose what had happened. During police interviews, Shaw initially denied the allegations but later claimed that the sex was consensual after DNA evidence linked him to the victim.

Shaw was released on bail in April 2003, but his criminal conduct did not end there. Weeks after his release, he committed a further serious offense by indecently assaulting and raping a woman at her home in Huddersfield. During this attack, he also threatened to harm her two young children. Shaw was subsequently convicted of these crimes following a trial at Bradford Crown Court.

Judge Stephen Gullick, the Recorder of Bradford, delivered the sentence, stating that Shaw posed a continuing risk to females. The judge emphasized that, based on the evidence, Shaw’s dangerousness warranted a life sentence. Had a life sentence not been deemed appropriate, the court would have imposed a 10-year term with a minimum of four years before Shaw could seek parole. Shaw was also prohibited from working with children for life and was ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely upon his release.

Detective Sergeant Paul Keitch commented on the case, highlighting Shaw’s dangerousness and the court’s decision to impose a sentence that aims to protect the public. He also noted that the 15-year-old girl was recovering well, supported by her caring and close-knit family, despite the trauma she endured. The case has left a lasting impact on the communities of Batley, Lightcliffe, Halifax, and Huddersfield, underscoring the importance of justice and public safety.