JASON MCSORLEY GUILTY OF RAPE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN GUISTBOROUGH

Jason McSorley, a man with a disturbing history of sexual offenses, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison following his conviction for the rape of a young girl in Guisborough. The case revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that involved significant planning and manipulation, highlighting the severity of his crimes.

McSorley's criminal history includes a previous 32-month incarceration for offenses that involved sexually touching the same girl and possessing over 10,000 indecent images of children. Despite his prior conviction, the victim later disclosed that McSorley had gone beyond the acts he was previously convicted for, revealing that he had raped her on two separate occasions. This new revelation prompted a retrial, where McSorley faced serious charges of child rape.

In the recent trial at Teesside Crown Court, the 46-year-old offender was accused of befriending families within a local church community in Guisborough, where he used gifts, sweets, and attention to groom a schoolgirl over several years. His initial conviction in 2014 was for kissing her and touching her bottom, as well as possessing a vast collection of child abuse images. However, the victim's subsequent account painted a far more disturbing picture, with her revealing that McSorley had raped her twice, acts far more serious than her earlier disclosures.

During the trial, McSorley denied the new allegations, maintaining his innocence and claiming that the girl fabricated the story to keep him imprisoned after his release from prison. Nevertheless, the jury deliberated for just over two hours before reaching a unanimous verdict, convicting him of two counts of raping a child under 13. Judge Simon Hickey, presiding over the case, warned McSorley that he could expect a lengthy prison sentence and remanded him into custody until sentencing scheduled for April 19.

It was also revealed that McSorley, whose address was recorded as Holme House Prison, might be classified as a dangerous offender, which could lead to an extended or even indefinite sentence. The court heard that the young girl, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was deeply frightened about the possibility of encountering McSorley after his release, especially given her fears stemming from his previous prison term. She confided in her mother that McSorley had raped her, and she admitted to her counselor that she had not disclosed everything to the police two years earlier. She described how McSorley had twice pinned her down and forced himself on her, threatening her with harm if she spoke out, saying, “If you cry you’re going to get into trouble, and if you hurt me you’ll be in serious trouble.”

Further investigations uncovered that McSorley had joined a local kayak club, despite being under court orders as a registered sex offender, which was a breach of his restrictions. Police executed a search at his residence and discovered over 1,000 child abuse images on his computer equipment. McSorley admitted to possessing these indecent images and also breached sex offender notification requirements by failing to register a name. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual offences prevention order by having unsupervised contact with a young girl, possessing two cameras and three phones, and overwriting a hard drive.

Throughout the proceedings, McSorley maintained that the girl’s allegations were false, claiming she had made them to keep him incarcerated. In his testimony, he denied attempting to groom her but admitted to the sexual assaults. He revealed that he was sexually attracted to young girls and that he had enjoyed viewing images of girls as young as six being raped, a behavior he engaged in during a period of depression, stress, and heavy drinking.

His criminal activities in 2014 included taking and possessing indecent images, with police discovering a collection of over 10,600 such images at his flat in Guisborough. The images ranged in age from five to 15 years old. The court also learned that McSorley had visited websites offering child abuse images and had taken 130 indecent pictures himself, including images of the girl he later abused. The initial investigation also revealed that he had been seen looking at primary school-age girls and secretly photographing one girl on a beach.

In 2012, police found the extensive collection of images stored on his laptop, media, and in hard copies. Friends had previously contacted the NSPCC after noticing him taking photos of strangers and discovering inappropriate images on his devices. The case against him was built on these findings, which led to his first conviction for sexual assault and possession of indecent images. The court described McSorley as having an unhealthy sexual fascination with young girls, which was evident from his collection and behavior.

In February 2014, McSorley, then 42, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. Judge Howard Crowson emphasized that unless he sought help for his “unhealthy interest,” he would remain a significant risk to the community. The court was informed that vigilantes had forced him from his home in Stakesby Close, Guisborough, after discovering his illicit activities. The judge expressed concern that McSorley’s fascination with young girls had not been eradicated and warned that if he failed to address his behavior, he could face much longer sentences in the future. As part of his ongoing restrictions, he was banned from having unsupervised contact with girls under 16 and from possessing devices capable of taking photographs. An indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also imposed, restricting his use of computers and related technology.

McSorley's case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially those who continue to harbor harmful interests despite prior convictions and court orders. His actions have caused significant trauma to his victims and have prompted serious legal consequences, including a lengthy prison sentence and strict post-release restrictions.