DUANE HOLLAND OF ALMONDBURY, HUDDERSFIELD, SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE OVER 14 YEARS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Huddersfield community, Duane Holland, a man from Almondbury, was convicted of a series of serious child sex offenses spanning over a decade. Holland, who was actively involved with the Boys’ Brigade in Huddersfield, was found guilty of multiple charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, including indecent assault, attempted rape, and the production of indecent photographs.

The investigation into Holland’s activities uncovered a disturbing trail of abuse dating back to 1997. The police’s efforts were triggered when Holland, then 27 years old, was caught sending suggestive text messages to a young boy. This incident was just the tip of the iceberg, as subsequent revelations revealed that Holland had been grooming and abusing children over a period of 14 years, exploiting his trusted position both as a babysitter and as a leader within the Boys’ Brigade.

The authorities’ inquiries began in earnest in 2011, after Humberside police received reports of inappropriate messages sent by Holland to a teenage boy in their jurisdiction. The boy had met Holland at a camp, and their communication quickly escalated to suggestive exchanges. The police discovered that Holland had also been involved in similar misconduct with another teenager in West Yorkshire, whom he had met through the Boys’ Brigade activities in Huddersfield. Further investigations uncovered two additional victims who came forward, revealing that Holland had abused them years earlier while babysitting them, independent of his involvement with the youth organization.

Holland, who resides at Harvey Royd in Almondbury, was subjected to a trial at Leeds Crown Court. In July, a jury found him guilty on ten counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. The charges also included causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to facilitate a sexual offense, three counts of sexual activity with a child, three charges of taking indecent photographs, and eight counts of making indecent photographs. The court sentenced Holland to a total of 12 years in prison, with an additional five years on extended license upon his release. Moreover, he was permanently barred from working with children and was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Judge Guy Kearl QC emphasized the gravity of Holland’s actions, stating, “The Crown submit you are a predatory paedophile and I agree. You do not see your behaviour as being illegal, you have minimised, justified and decriminalised matters in your own mind as part of a distorted thought process. You are extremely plausible and have no victim empathy whatsoever.”

Prosecutor Stephen Wood detailed the disturbing nature of the abuse, highlighting that police in Humberside had contacted their West Yorkshire counterparts regarding the inappropriate messages Holland had sent to a teenage boy. The messages included flirtatious comments such as “You’re sexy,” and Holland had even made arrangements for the boy to stay with him at a caravan in Bridlington. The boy later revealed that Holland had been abusing him since he was 13, including acts such as urinating over Holland and being filmed performing sexual acts.

Two other victims, who had been abused while Holland was babysitting them, described how Holland would play a game called “truth or dare,” which he used as a grooming tool to persuade them to engage in sexual activities. One victim recounted that he naively agreed to Holland’s advances, which led to traumatic experiences that caused him to contemplate suicide for years, even taking an overdose. The second victim also described how Holland’s abuse was ongoing during visits, and he was too frightened to confide in his mother about what was happening.

Holland’s defense, represented by Robin Frieze, maintained that Holland still denied the allegations of historic abuse. However, he expressed willingness to participate in a sex offender treatment program while in prison, suggesting some acknowledgment of the need for rehabilitation. The judge, acknowledging the seriousness of the case, stated that Holland’s ability to offend in the future would be significantly limited.

Following the verdict, Detective Constable Emma Summerscales praised the bravery of the victims and urged others suffering from similar abuse to seek help. She expressed hope that the lengthy sentence would provide some measure of closure for those affected. A spokesperson for the Boys’ Brigade in Huddersfield, based in Brackenhall, issued a statement expressing regret for the harm caused and emphasizing that the organization’s good work should not be overshadowed by this case.