81-YEAR-OLD NORTHALLERTON MAN JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

The elderly sex offender Raymond Douglas Mackley, aged 81, from The Green, Romanby, Northallerton, has been given a prison sentence of 12 years following a conviction for multiple child sex offences. At Teeside Crown Court on November 6, Mackley was sentenced after being found guilty of eight counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, six counts of sexual assault against a child under 13, and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and to be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life. The horrifying acts came to light when one of his victims confided in a family member about the abuse she endured as a child, which led to another victim coming forward with similar experiences. Detective Constable Gillian Gowling of Northallerton CID described Mackley's actions as 'blatant and sickening' and stated that Mackley maintained his innocence and showed no remorse throughout the investigation. She praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward and emphasized the importance of reporting abuse, saying that their testimonies led to his conviction. Gowling expressed hope that this outcome would help victims to heal and confirmed the police's commitment to investigating such crimes thoroughly.