Daren Skillings, a recidivist Bradford Paedophile sex offender, who evaded justice for his offences against two young girls in Calderdale, has ultimately been incarcerated for his subsequent rape of another child.
Daren Skillings, aged 57, was interrogated by law enforcement over ten years prior regarding his misconduct towards the initial two complainants; nevertheless, he refuted any wrongdoing at that time, resulting in no subsequent action being pursued.
Prosecutor Jayne Beckett said Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday that the case was reopened following allegations against Daren Skillings, currently residing on Sticker Lane, Bradford, for the abuse and rape of a third young girl several years later.
One of Daren Skillings’ first victims faced him in court and finally saw him jailed for 11 years. He was handed an additional extended licence period of one year, to be served at the end of the sentence.
Mrs Beckett read moving victim impact statements from all three complainants, who must not be identified for legal reasons, in which they described the nightmares, flashbacks and trauma they had suffered as a result of Daren Skillings’ offending.
One of his first victims said she was sad it had taken years for her to get justice. She said: “I never got my justice when I first reported it…I wasn’t believed.” She said the subsequent rape offence could have been prevented and she now hoped Daren Skillings would never hurt anyone again.
The third victim said she suffered nightmares and flashbacks on a regular basis and every part of her life was difficult.
Daren Skillings, who will now have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, pleaded guilty to the rape and abuse charges involving his most recent victim and was found guilty of abusing the two other complainants by a jury following a trial.
Catherine Silverton, for Daren Skillings, said he had always accepted responsibility for the rape and was deeply ashamed and remorseful. She said he had been a hard-working man who appeared to have been a “functioning alcoholic”.
Jailing Daren Skillings, Judge Armstrong said the victim statements made very moving reading. He said the original case had not been pursued nearer the time and it was only following the more recent matters that it had been resurrected.
Daren Skillings will now have to serve two-thirds of his 11-year prison sentence and he will have to comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order when he is finally released on licence.
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