Locations
Redditch, Worcestershire, B98
Description
A paedophile has been jailed for 18 years for what detectives described as 'horrific offences that destroyed a young life'.
Richard Tate, 34, pleaded guilty to seven counts of rape at Worcester Crown Court yesterday(Thursday October 28).
The offences took place between last year and this year.
Tate pleaded guilty in September to the charges but was sentenced yesterday.
In February, West Mercia Police launched a public appeal to help locate Tate, who went missing from Redditch and had been last seen on February 19.
Detective Sergeant Paul Willetts said: “Tate committed these horrific offences against a child over a period of time to gain sexual gratification and destroyed a young life.
“I would like to pay tribute and commend the victim in this harrowing case for alerting the police to Tate’s crimes, which has allowed us to bring him to justice. We hope the conviction and this substantial prison sentence will bring some measure of comfort.”