Locations
Wickham Green, Holme Wood
Description
A BRADFORD man who raped a young girl has been handed a nine-year prison sentence.
Ashley Nibbs, 34, appeared via a video link from HMP Leeds for his sentence hearing at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday after he had pleaded guilty to two rape allegations and two charges of sexual assault.
The victim of Nibbs’ crimes must not be identified for legal reasons, but the court heard that his abuse of her had left her suffering nightmares.
Immediately after committing the offences Nibbs, of Wickham Green, Holme Wood, denied that anything had happened and accused the girl of lying.
Although he had pleaded guilty to the offences at an earlier court hearing, Judge Jonathan Gibson noted that in a pre-sentence report Nibbs still maintained his denials.
Barrister Brooke Morrison, for Nibbs, said he had no relevant previous convictions and the sentence he was facing today was an extremely daunting prospect.
She said her client suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and his condition had been exacerbated while in prison.
Miss Morrison said Nibbs was receiving abuse on a daily basis because of the offences and he feared for his life.
“Since his arrest for these offences he has lost everything,” said Miss Morrison.
Judge Gibson said he had to sentence Nibbs for serious sexual abuse of the complainant and there had been strong evidence against the defendant.
He said Nibbs only had himself to blame for the catastrophic effect of his offending.
The judge explained that after a trial Nibbs would have been jailed for 12 years, but guilty pleas in such cases were a matter of importance and he was entitled to a 25 per cent reduction in the sentence.
Nibbs will have to serve two-thirds of the nine-year prison sentence, but Judge Gibson also imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order which restricts his contact with females under 18 in future.
Nibbs will also have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life.