GEORGE MCKENZIE FROM ILKLEY SENTENCED AFTER TARGETING WOMEN AT BUS STOPS AND RAILWAY STATIONS
| Red Rose Database
Ilkley Sexual Abuser
In a case that has once again highlighted the dangers posed by repeat offenders, George McKenzie, a 42-year-old man from Ilkley, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for a series of disturbing sexual assaults targeting lone women and girls in public places. The incidents took place in various locations, including Ilkley Railway Station and Otley Bus Station, and involved vulnerable victims who were simply going about their daily routines.
McKenzie's criminal history is extensive. He had previously served a four-year prison term after being convicted of indecently assaulting a schoolgirl and three women. His past offenses included grabbing a young girl by the arm and groping her at a location where she was vulnerable, which she managed to resist by kicking him, causing him to flee the scene. His prior convictions also involved making inappropriate sexual suggestions to women he encountered.
Most recently, McKenzie was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at Ilkley Railway Station on December 12 of the previous year. The court heard that he approached her and made unsolicited comments, telling her, “You’ve got a beautiful smile,” before placing his hand on her knee. Despite her efforts to push him away, he attempted to hug her and moved closer while she was seated on a bench. The girl, visibly frightened, mouthed “help me” to bystanders, prompting a woman to pretend to know her in order to facilitate her escape. The girl was left extremely distressed and was seen crying after the incident.
Further complicating the case, McKenzie was also involved in an incident at Otley Bus Station on March 21, where he approached a nurse in her 50s. CCTV footage captured him touching her inappropriately twice, asking personal questions about her marital status and destination, and ultimately groping her. When the woman told him he needed help, McKenzie responded by asking her to have sex with him. The nurse identified him during police procedures, and he was subsequently arrested. The police confirmed that the incident was caught on CCTV, which played a crucial role in his identification.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that McKenzie was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offenses, which he acknowledged as a significant factor in his disinhibited behavior. He expressed remorse and regret for his actions, recognizing the severity of his conduct. The court was informed that McKenzie was sober at the time of sentencing and that he was now fully aware of the consequences he faced.
Judge John Potter, presiding over the case, condemned McKenzie’s behavior as “abusive and disgraceful,” emphasizing the predatory nature of his actions aimed at vulnerable women in public spaces. The judge ordered McKenzie to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community from further harm.
McKenzie's criminal history is extensive. He had previously served a four-year prison term after being convicted of indecently assaulting a schoolgirl and three women. His past offenses included grabbing a young girl by the arm and groping her at a location where she was vulnerable, which she managed to resist by kicking him, causing him to flee the scene. His prior convictions also involved making inappropriate sexual suggestions to women he encountered.
Most recently, McKenzie was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at Ilkley Railway Station on December 12 of the previous year. The court heard that he approached her and made unsolicited comments, telling her, “You’ve got a beautiful smile,” before placing his hand on her knee. Despite her efforts to push him away, he attempted to hug her and moved closer while she was seated on a bench. The girl, visibly frightened, mouthed “help me” to bystanders, prompting a woman to pretend to know her in order to facilitate her escape. The girl was left extremely distressed and was seen crying after the incident.
Further complicating the case, McKenzie was also involved in an incident at Otley Bus Station on March 21, where he approached a nurse in her 50s. CCTV footage captured him touching her inappropriately twice, asking personal questions about her marital status and destination, and ultimately groping her. When the woman told him he needed help, McKenzie responded by asking her to have sex with him. The nurse identified him during police procedures, and he was subsequently arrested. The police confirmed that the incident was caught on CCTV, which played a crucial role in his identification.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that McKenzie was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offenses, which he acknowledged as a significant factor in his disinhibited behavior. He expressed remorse and regret for his actions, recognizing the severity of his conduct. The court was informed that McKenzie was sober at the time of sentencing and that he was now fully aware of the consequences he faced.
Judge John Potter, presiding over the case, condemned McKenzie’s behavior as “abusive and disgraceful,” emphasizing the predatory nature of his actions aimed at vulnerable women in public spaces. The judge ordered McKenzie to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community from further harm.