JAMES MCLEAN FROM CLIFTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN YORK AND SELBY

In a disturbing series of criminal acts spanning several years, James McLean, a 76-year-old resident of Clifton, has been convicted and sentenced for multiple serious sexual offenses involving vulnerable children in the York area. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of grooming, assault, and rape that McLean carried out over a period of time, targeting young victims and exploiting their trust and innocence.

According to the detailed findings presented at York Crown Court, McLean subjected a young girl, who was only nine and ten years old at the time, to repeated sexual abuse over a 12-month period. The judge, Mr. Justice Tom Bayliss QC, described the acts as heinous, noting that McLean raped the girl approximately 12 to 15 times during this period. The court heard that the victim was particularly vulnerable due to her age, and McLean’s actions caused her significant psychological harm. Despite her pleas for him to stop, McLean continued his abuse, showing a blatant disregard for her distress.

Judge Bayliss detailed that McLean had groomed the child by offering her various inducements, including money, cannabis, cigarettes, alcohol, and treats. The court also learned that McLean took the girl on outings, including visits to places such as The Deep aquarium in Hull, further manipulating her and creating a false sense of companionship or trust.

Prosecutor Laura Addy recounted that the victim had confided that on some occasions, she had woken up to find McLean assaulting her. She described the experience as “horrible,” and despite her efforts to resist and tell him to stop, McLean refused to listen, continuing his abuse without regard for her pleas.

In mitigation, McLean’s defense attorney, Emma Bennett, acknowledged her client’s guilty pleas and his age, emphasizing that she did not dispute the facts of the case. She accepted that a substantial custodial sentence was appropriate given the severity of his crimes. The judge noted that McLean had no relevant prior convictions until his 70s, but three years ago, he had been given a community order for sexual assaults on two other children under 13. It was also revealed that at the time of those earlier offenses, the court was unaware of the more recent crimes now brought to light.

Ultimately, McLean was sentenced to a total of eleven and a half years in prison. The judge took into account his age, his guilty pleas at an earlier hearing to charges including two counts of raping a child under 13, four counts of sexual assault, and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The sentencing reflected the gravity of his actions and the impact on his victims.

In a separate but related case from September 2011, McLean, then of New Millgate, Selby, was found guilty of abusing two underage girls. He exploited their recent initiation into smoking by luring them to his flat with promises of cigarettes in exchange for sexual favors. The court heard that McLean would meet the girls twice weekly at his residence and, on some occasions, provided them with vodka-based drinks. His crimes came to light after one of the victims confided in her boyfriend’s parents about the abuse.

McLean pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault on the two girls, aged 12, between September and December of the previous year. Judge Stephen Ashurst described his conduct as “disgusting,” emphasizing the significant age gap and the severity of the offenses. The court was told that the victim who spoke out suffered from severe depression following her ordeal.

Following his arrest, McLean had already spent 141 days in custody on remand. He was subsequently sentenced to a three-year community order, a three-year supervision order, and was banned from entering the Selby area for two years. Conditions included living in a hostel, adhering to a curfew, and participating in a sex offenders’ treatment program. The court also prohibited him from giving gifts to anyone under 16 or staying on premises with minors without parental consent, which must be informed of his convictions.

Judge Ashurst concluded by expressing hope that these measures would help the victims and their families come to terms with the consequences of McLean’s actions. He condemned the offenses as “serious criminal activity” and emphasized the disturbing nature of the crimes, especially given the considerable age difference and the vulnerability of the victims involved.