Locations
Trinity Road, Bridlington, East Riding Of Yorkshire, YO15
Description
A man who raped and sexually abused two children over several years has been jailed today for 18 years and has also been handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, concluding a complex four-year investigation led by detectives in our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.
Paul Tyler, 66-years old of Trinity Road in Bridlington, pleaded guilty to 11 offences including rape of a child under 13, at earlier court hearings, and appeared today (Wednesday, 28 January) at Hull Crown court where he was sentenced.
An investigation was launched into Tyler in August 2022, after a man presented at Bridlington police station reporting that when he was a child he was subjected to multiple rapes over two years, naming Tyler as the one responsible.
Detectives carried out extensive enquiries into what were quickly established to be complex, non-recent sexual offences, including liaising with colleagues from neighbouring forces, gathering witness and victim impact statements, and collating third-party material to stack up the evidence against him to present to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), leading to Tyler being charged in August 2024.
In December 2024, he pleaded guilty at a Hull Crown Court hearing to five counts of rape of a boy under 13, and sexual assault of a boy under 13, however sentencing was postponed due to a third-party report we received the month before, claiming that a woman had disclosed non-recent sexual abuse when she was a child, again naming Tyler as the offender.
Tyler was already in prison serving a 16-sentence that began in 2012 for sexual offences against children in the West Yorkshire area. He remained in prison following his guilty plea and whilst a second investigation was launched.
Tyler was later charged as part of the second investigation in September 2025, appearing back at Hull Crown Court in November where he entered guilty pleas to two counts of causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, rape of a girl under 13, sexual assault of a girl under 13, and assault by penetration of a girl under 13.
Following this result, the three years left of his existing 16-year sentence will run concurrently, and the 18-year sentence received today will run consecutively.
Following his appearance at Hull Crown Court today, investigating officer Detective Constable Clare Gascoigne said:
“I want to first commend the extraordinary bravery shown by the man and woman who came forward and reported Tyler’s offending against them when they were just children.
“These offences took place many years ago, and coming forward to report abuse suffered as a child requires immense courage.
“Their strength in speaking out has been vital in bringing this offender to justice, and by doing this, they have not only sought accountability for what was done to them but also helped protect other children.
“I’d also like to recognise the invaluable support provided by colleagues from one of our neighbouring forces, West Yorkshire Police, and the unwavering dedication from all officers involved in both investigations, along with the support from the CPS throughout the entirety of this protracted investigation into Tyler’s grotesque offending.
“Acknowledging The Blue Door service too, whose advocacy and specialist support gave both the man and woman confidence to engage in the criminal justice process. The role of independent support services such as The Blue Door is crucial in helping victims feel believed, supported and empowered.
“Non-recent child sexual abuse often goes unreported for decades because of feelings of fear, shame, or worries about not being believed. This case demonstrates that we will always take such allegations seriously, regardless of how much time has passed, and we will investigate them thoroughly and sensitively.
“Whilst today’s outcome does not take away the pain and suffering the man and woman have endured, I hope it provides them with some reassurance that Tyler will remain in prison for the rest of his life, unable to cause any more harm to children in our communities.
“We would encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, whether it was six days or six years ago, to come forward and tell someone when you are ready. You will be listened to, supported and taken seriously.”