Michael Billups 56

Description

A gross man who raped an East Riding schoolgirl and made her conceal the truth has been jailed.

Michael Billups, who worked for a major TV company, subjected the youngster to horrific sexual abuse over a two-month period.

The 52-year-olds campaign began when he unzipped the girls onesie to abuse her before going on to brutally rape her on more than one occasion.

Claire Holmes, prosecuting, said: He would unzip her onesie to touch her. She said that it had progressed to the defendant raping her numerous times and this lasted for two or three months until she told her mum.

The abuse happened in around 2011 but was only exposed years later when she confided in her boyfriend.

An educational welfare officer reported the abuse to the authorities and when Billups was arrested in September 2018 he immediately admitted to raping the girl.

Miss Holmes said: When he was arrested he was told not to talk about the offence but he said I dont need to it was statutory rape'.

In a statement, given to police following his arrest, Billings said: I accept the offence of rape and sexual allegations against me. I am truly remorseful and sorry for what occurred.

I have been living with this for six years and want to get this matter resolved. I believe I need help for what happened and I cant say why I did it.

Im truly sorry and wish I hadnt done what I did every day.

Sickeningly, Billups even said at on the stage that the girl wanted it...and enjoyed it.

The defendant, of Lilac Oval, Leeds, had a prior history of upskirting and engaging with prostitutes before raping the youngster.

During Wednesdays sentencing at Hull Crown Court it was revealed that Billups had put a camera between a womans legs on an escalator before taking a photo of another young woman up her skirt in Pocklington.

He was subjected to an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) which prevented Billings from having access to a mobile phone with a camera.

However, in 2009 he was found by police in Leeds Red Light District asking a prostitute to take pictures of her genitals on his phone in exchange for cash.

The girl told her friend that Billups had taken naked pictures of her but it was not until last year when she and her boyfriend were doing an online quiz that the truth about him raping the youngster was revealed.

Miss Holmes said: There was a mention of rape within that quiz and she went silent and began to cry. She confirmed she had been raped and her boyfriend was shocked by this and asked her if it was true.

She said yes but was so upset and could not give him any more information.

Her boyfriend suggested she go to see a doctor but she then revealed that years earlier Billups had told her not to seek any medical help.

Miss Holmes said: Mr Billups had objected to her going to the doctors and the Crown submits the reason for that is the fear that she may have disclosed the sexual abuse.

Billups wept in the dock at Hull Crown Court as the harrowing impact of the abuse was brought to light.

The girl suffers from anxiety and told doctors she had considered killing herself, leaving her mother heartbroken.

The victims mum said: It made me feel upset and angry and it made me overprotective and cautious. I used to dread pushing open her bedroom door and I feel remorseful towards the whole situation.

This is something my daughter will always have to deal with and its through no fault of her own.

Gordon Stables, defending Billups, said his client had spent years waiting for police to knock on his door prior to his arrest in 2018.

Mr Stables said: He has not beaten around the bush. He has admitted it and he admits that for that two or three months he committed the most awful criminal offences.

He is utterly ashamed and he is full of remorse.

Billups pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and another charge of assault against a child.

Judge Mark Bury condemned his crimes as gross before jailing him for ten years and handing him a five-year restraining order which prevents him from contacting the victim or her family.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for life and must serve an extra year on extended licence.

Detective Constable Becky McInnis from Humberside Police said: Investigations of this nature are always difficult and I welcome todays sentencing.

I hope that this offers reassurance that we will always work to protect vulnerable people, taking action against those that commit offences against them.

Where we have victims that are unable to be involved in the proceeding and we need to seek a prosecution without their participation - we will do so.