NEIL KING SENTENCED TO 21 YEARS IN ROTHERHAM FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

A man convicted of sexually abusing two young girls in Rotherham has been sentenced to 21 years in prison. Neil King, aged 51, received this sentence at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday for 17 offences committed over more than 15 years. The conviction followed a trial held in July. King, who resides on Meadow Street in Rotherham, was prosecuted as part of Operation Stovewood, an extensive investigation into historical child sexual abuse in the area. The National Crime Agency (NCA), which assisted in building the case, described King’s conduct as having subjected his victims to a "horrendous" ordeal.

King began abusing the first victim in the summer of 2008, with his then-girlfriend, Louise Tye, an NCA spokesperson explained. Ms Tye, who faced charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and causing neglect or ill treatment of a child, tragically died at the end of last year while awaiting trial alongside King. Prosecutors revealed that, on one occasion, the girl was accompanied by her close friend, who was around 13 or 14 at the time, and King assaulted them together.

After enduring several months of abuse, the first victim was able to avoid King for a period, but he later found her and attacked her again in 2010 at her new home, according to the NCA spokesperson. During the abuse, King exploited his role of trust by giving both girls gifts, money, and sometimes alcohol or drugs.

Following the sentencing, Stuart Cobb, a senior investigating officer at the NCA, stated: "Sixteen years ago Neil King subjected two young girls to horrendous sexual abuse. Today he is in prison because of the brave testimonies of the victims and the determination of National Crime Agency officers to seek justice. This case demonstrates that it’s never too late to report sexual offences, so I urge anyone who was abused as a child to tell police. Reports will be handled by specially trained officers."