Locations
Lovell Park Hill, Leeds City Centre, LS7
Description
A paedophile who repeatedly raped a young boy over a number of years has been given a life sentence following an investigation by specialist safeguarding officers in Leeds.
Mark Hutchinson-Schofield, aged 55, of Lovell Park Hill, Leeds, was found guilty following a trial at Leeds Crown Court this week.
The offences came to light in July last year when the victim told a teacher who alerted the police.
Hutchinson-Schofield was arrested but denied the offences in his police interview and called the victim a liar.
Officers from Leeds District Safeguarding Unit liaised with Crown Prosecution Service and were able to have him charged and remanded in custody immediately on the basis of the initial evidence, prior to the victim be able to give a full account.
He was also charged with offences related to breaching sex offender conditions, which he pleaded guilty to at the start of the trial.
Today at Leeds Crown Court, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years.
Detective Inspector Mark Tester, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Hutchinson-Schofield was responsible for an appalling and sustained catalogue of abuse against this vulnerable child that has had a devastating traumatic effect on the victim’s young life.
“He systematically sexually exploited the victim for his own gratification in circumstances that were a complete betrayal of trust.
“This was a challenging investigation where the officer in the case, Detective Constable Nicki Vincent, supported the victim at every stage to comprehensively capture all the evidence that has helped to secure these convictions against Hutchinson-Schofield.
“The victim was able to give his evidence to the court under special measures that allowed his account to be video recorded in advance of the trial to reduce the impact of the court process on him.
“We hope the significant sentence that Hutchinson-Schofield has now received will provide some reassurance to the victim and his family as well as to the wider community.
“Our specialist safeguarding officers will continue to do everything they can to secure convictions against predatory offenders like this to get justice for victims and protect others from harm.”