MICHAEL YARDLEY FROM SLEAFORD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN LINCOLNSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Sleaford and the wider Lincolnshire area, Michael Yardley, a 35-year-old former police community support officer, was sentenced to a decade behind bars for engaging in a sexual relationship with a young girl aged just 12 years old. The court proceedings revealed a series of troubling details about Yardley's conduct, which spanned several months and involved multiple instances of abuse.

According to the evidence presented at Lincoln Crown Court, Yardley had sexual encounters with the girl on at least five separate occasions while she was between the ages of 12 and 13. These encounters took place in various locations, including his car and a private residence, with the abuse beginning in October 2010 and continuing until April 2011. The court heard that the relationship was not initiated through Yardley's official police duties, as he was part of the Sleaford neighbourhood policing team from 2008, but rather developed through private interactions.

Further details emerged during the trial, including the exchange of explicit text messages between Yardley and the girl. Prosecutors highlighted that their communication started innocuously but gradually became sexual in nature, reflecting a disturbing progression. Yardley also bought the girl presents, which appeared to be part of his grooming process. The court was told that the victim's distress was compounded when her own wife discovered Yardley sitting on a sofa with the girl, with his arm around her and stroking her neck. This incident, which occurred on December 5, 2010, led to a separation over the Christmas period.

Following this, the girl confided in her manager at work about her concerns, prompting her to report the matter to the police. During police interviews, the victim explained that her relationship with Yardley became intimate after they began texting each other. Initially, the messages were playful and innocent, but over time, they took on a sexual tone, culminating in physical acts of abuse. Yardley initially denied the allegations but later admitted to having sex with the girl during a subsequent interview.

Yardley's defense team argued that he had no prior convictions and that his guilty plea spared the girl from having to testify in court. However, the judge, Recorder John Philpotts, emphasized the breach of trust involved in Yardley's actions. He stated, “The long-term emotional and psychological effects on the victim herself can only be guessed but I have no doubt that they will be serious and substantial.”

Detective Inspector Guy Leach condemned Yardley's conduct, describing him as a “very dangerous person to young girls.” He further stated that Yardley's actions had stolen the girl’s childhood and adolescence. As part of his sentence, Yardley will be placed on the sex offenders register for life and will be monitored by the Dangerous Persons Management Unit to prevent any future abuse or manipulation. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact such betrayal of trust can have on vulnerable victims and the importance of safeguarding measures within communities.