Update: Now living in Brotton May 2000 Child rapist fails in appeal challenge to jail term A RAPIST who imprisoned and drugged a 12-year-old girl before attacking her yesterday failed to overturn his convictions and 13-year jail term. Michael Woodhouse, 41, was convicted in 1998 of rape, false imprisonment and being concerned in the supply of amphetamines. Three Appeal Court judges rejected submissions from Woodhouse’s lawyers that the convictions were unsafe because the jury heard no evidence about the victim’s sexual experience. The parents of the 12-year-old victim became concerned when she failed to return home by 8.30pm, said Lord Justice Mantell, sitting with Mr Justice Penry-Davey and Judge Fabyan Evans. Her father later forced his way into Woodhouse’s home in Park Vale Road, Middlesbrough, after being told his daughter was inside and police felt unable to do anything. He found her in a distraught state, just after she had been raped. Woodhouse initially denied having intercourse with the girl, but later told police he, his girlfriend and the victim had consensual sex shortly before her parents arrived. The Appeal Court heard Woodhouse’s victim gave birth to a baby girl on May 1 last year and attributed the pregnancy to a single act of intercourse several months after the rape. But Lord Justice Mantell observed it was “difficult to see” how the girl’s sexual experience had any relevance to the case. He also dismissed Woodhouse’s appeal against the length of his sentence. “In the end, we have come to the conclusion that, although possibly a severe sentence, 13 years was not manifestly excessive.” November 1999 Police who failed to stop girl’s rape could face the sack TWO police officers are to face disciplinary action which could end their careers after a 12-year-old girl was raped while her father stood helplessly by – having been told he risked arrest if he intervened. The youngster was playing outside her home when she was picked up by a teenage girl looking for a virgin to present to her boyfriend for his birthday. After being driven away, she was imprisoned in a flat, plied with drugs, and raped by 39-year-old Michael Woodhouse. His girlfriend Leanne Glarvey, 19, joined him in bed as the assault took place. The girl’s father arrived outside the flat before the rape took place and called police. But when he demanded that officers act, he was told he could be arrested if he forced his way into the property. For two hours, nothing was done. Eventually, the father ignored the warnings and smashed his way in – to find his daughter traumatised and sobbing. Woodhouse and Glar-vey were jailed over the assault, and during the trial the judge called the police inaction ‘a matter of grave concern’. Now a Police Complaints Authority investigation has upheld the father’s complaints about Cleveland Constabulary’s failure to rescue his daughter. Inspector Christine Garner and Sergeant Peter Jackson face seven disciplinary charges. Both will appear before Chief Constable Barry Shaw next month and could face penalties ranging from a caution to being required to resign. Another two junior officers are to be formally warned about their conduct after receiving ‘strong advice’ from an assistant chief constable. The girl’s family launched a desperate search for her after she disappeared from home in Redcar, Cleveland in January 1998. After hearing that she was being held in Woodhouse’s flat in Middles-brough, her father dialled 999 and demanded action. A series of officers told him there was no evidence of any wrongdoing at the flat, and he faced arrest if he took the law into his own hands. Instead, he was told to attend the police station to ‘fill out forms’. It was while this paperwork was being completed that his daughter was assaulted. Two hours later, the father broke into the flat. Woodhouse was jailed for 13 years and Glarvey was given five years youth custody. The PCA inquiry found that Inspector Garner and Sergeant Jackson had failed to take full action and use full powers to rescue the girl. They each face seven charges of neglect of duty. The PCA also strongly criticised the two probation constables who attended the scene, over their failures concerning the report of the girl’s disappearance and subsequent breaches of procedure. The rape victim said she was shouted at by a female officer who doubted her claim of rape, the inquiry was told. The officer denied this, but has since apologised for causing any distress. Staff at Middlesbrough police station have made an apology over their insensitivity. While the youngster was being interviewed, her waiting family were dismayed that the staff stood chatting and passing sweets to each other in front of them. Since the rape, the girl’s parents have suffered post traumatic stress disorder and have had to give up their jobs. The daughter is still receiving psychiatric treatment for nightmares and flashbacks, and has been unable to return to school. The family’s misery was compounded earlier this year when lawyers mounting an appeal over Woodhouse’s sentence hired private detectives to research the girl’s background. Funded by taxpayers’ money, they called at the family home and asked neighbours if the girl had been a child prostitute. Her father, who will be invited to attend the disciplinary hearing, yesterday said he did not wish to make any comment until the matter was resolved. October 2000 Police pair demoted over rape flat error TWO police officers who refused to allow a father to enter a flat where his 12-year-old daughter was being held by a paedophile have been demoted. They had been led to the address by the girl’s father after he was told that she had been lured there from a beach near their home 10 miles away. Officers from Cleveland Police refused to break in and warned the father that he would be arrested if he attempted to get inside. He was taken to the local police station to “fill out forms”, but forced his way into the flat in Middlesbrough two hours later. The man found his daughter slumped semi-naked in a corner. She had been drugged, plied with drink and raped. Michael Woodhouse, 38, was jailed for 13 years for rape and his friend Leanne Glarvey, 19, who lured the girl to the flat, was sentenced to five years’ youth custody. At the end of the trial in September 1998, Judge Michael Taylor described the police handling of the incident as “a matter for grave concern”. Insp Christine Garner and Sgt Peter Jackson admitted neglect of duty when they appeared at a disciplinary hearing before Barry Shaw, the Chief Constable of Cleveland. Garner was reduced to the rank of sergeant and Jackson to constable.