DONALD FLOOD BRANDED WICKED AND JAILED FOR ABUSE IN OTLEY AND BRADFORD

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Otley and Bradford, Donald Flood, a man now aged 59 and residing on Arthington Lane, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Otley, was convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual and physical abuse of a young girl. The disturbing incidents, which spanned several years, began when Flood was just a teenager and continued into his early adulthood, leaving a lasting scar on his victim.

The abuse reportedly started in 1968, when Flood was between the ages of 14 and 19. The young girl, who was only five years old at the time, was subjected to physical assaults by Flood. Over the following two years, these assaults escalated to include rape and indecent assault, marking a pattern of predatory behavior that would span years.

The case came to a head at Bradford Crown Court, where a jury deliberated for five hours before returning a guilty verdict on all 12 charges. These charges included five counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault, and two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm. Flood showed no visible reaction as the sentence was handed down, and he was immediately placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. All sentences were to run concurrently, reflecting the severity and interconnectedness of the crimes.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, came forward to police in 2011. She recounted that Flood, who was working as a trainee butcher at Rawson Market in Bradford city centre during the time of the abuse, had threatened her with a carving knife on some occasions, even warning her that he would cut her throat if she revealed what was happening. The court heard that some of the assaults took place in Peel Park, Bradford, and that Flood had also attempted to pay her to perform sex acts on him on other occasions.

At the time of his arrest last year, Flood was employed as a caretaker at Pool CE Primary School. The judge, His Honour Judge David Hatton, addressed Flood directly during sentencing, describing his actions as those of a “wicked boy and adolescent,” emphasizing that he was an unhappy individual who had not become a wicked adult. The judge acknowledged the profound impact these crimes had on the victim, noting that she had not recovered from the trauma of what he called “almost nightly events.”

Judge Hatton also pointed out that Flood, despite being very young when the abuse began, was fully aware of the wrongfulness of his actions as he matured. The court recognized that Flood knew the potential harm he was causing his victim and that his behavior was a conscious choice. The judge remarked that the crimes only ceased when Flood found an alternative outlet for his frustrations, implying a pattern of ongoing abuse over a substantial period.

In conclusion, the judge highlighted that although Flood was a teenager during the initial offenses, his increasing maturity meant he was fully aware of the wrongfulness of his conduct by the later stages. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the crimes committed and the lasting damage inflicted upon the victim, who has endured these traumatic experiences for many years.