GAVIN SYKES FROM HOLMFIRTH SENTENCED FOR ABDUCTING AND SEXUALLY ABUSING 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN WEST YORKSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Holmfirth and the surrounding areas, Gavin Sykes has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of abducting and sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl. The incident took place in June of the previous year, and the subsequent investigation revealed a series of alarming details that underscored the severity of the crime.

On the evening of June 20, 2019, the young girl was playing with her friends in a park located on Woodlands Avenue in Thongsbridge, a suburb near Holmfirth. At approximately 7:40 pm, a man driving a distinctive silver Toyota Celica with a spoiler and stickers pulled up near the children. The vehicle's appearance was notable enough that witnesses could easily identify it. The man, later identified as Gavin Sykes, invited the girl into his car, and she, perhaps out of curiosity or innocence, got into the vehicle. Moments later, Sykes drove away from the scene, prompting immediate concern among the child's friends and witnesses.

One of the children who saw the incident quickly ran to inform the girl’s mother, triggering a rapid response from local authorities. Police were called at 7:47 pm, and a search was launched for the vehicle involved. Officers quickly identified the car on Springwood Road in Holmfirth, approximately 15 minutes after the abduction. They stopped the vehicle immediately, and Sykes was found inside, visibly intoxicated and visibly distressed. The young girl was discovered in the front passenger seat, visibly panicked and crying. Sykes, a 42-year-old resident of New Mill Road, Wooldale, was arrested at the scene. During the arrest, he appeared intoxicated and refused to provide a breath sample.

In police interviews, Sykes claimed that the girl had asked him for a ride in his sports car and that he saw no wrongdoing in giving her a lift. He denied any sexual contact with the child. However, the evidence collected painted a different picture. The girl was taken to Holmfirth police station, where she was reunited with her mother. She disclosed that Sykes had slapped her face and touched her inappropriately, specifically indicating that he had touched her 'where he shouldn’t.'

Medical examinations revealed injuries consistent with her account. She had a small swelling near her left eye, two small bruises on her chest, a cluster of bruises on her thighs, and additional bruising on her legs and arms. The trauma was severe enough that she slept in her mother’s bed that night and experienced bedwetting, indicating the emotional and physical impact of the assault.

Throughout the trial, which concluded last month, Sykes was found guilty of multiple charges, including abduction with intent to commit a sexual offence and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13. He also admitted to child abduction and failing to provide a breath sample. The court heard that Sykes had previously invited four females, aged between 13 and 67, into his vehicle in June of the previous year, raising concerns about his pattern of behavior.

In sentencing, the judge ordered Sykes to serve an initial term of four and a half years in prison, followed by an additional four years on license. Furthermore, he was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, required to register as a sex offender indefinitely, and disqualified from driving for five years. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Holmfirth and highlights the importance of swift police action in protecting vulnerable children from harm.