Paedophile Gary Henshall, aged 65, of Greenacres Drive, Batley, West Yorkshire, was sentenced at York Crown Court on Friday, April 25, 2025.
Following multiple alterations to his plea about the seven charges against him, the judge rejected Gary Henshall’s ultimate not guilty plea on 21 February 2025, resulting in a guilty verdict.
The allegations, pertaining to the timeframe from 2020 to 2022, encompass three counts of sexual assault including penetration and four counts of sexual touching against a minor under the age of 13.
Detective Constable Sophie Wilson, who spearheaded the investigation, stated: “This has been an exceedingly challenging case, and I cannot commend the victim and her family enough for advocating for justice against Henshall.”
“Gary Henshall also dragged out their suffering by repeatedly changing his plea. The judge’s intervention ensured that justice has been served, and I hope the victim and her family can draw strength from the outcome at court.”
As well as the custodial sentence of 12 years with an extension of five years, Gary Henshall has also been placed on the Register of Sex Offenders for life and been made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Reporting rape and sexual abuse – no matter when it occurred
- Make a report via our website or call 101 and speak to the Force Control Room.
- If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, always dial 999 for an emergency response.
- IDAS is an independent charity that supports victims of sexual violence and abuse regardless of whether you have reported it to the police. Sexual Violence Help and Advice
- https://sexualviolence.idas.org.uk/
- Anyone concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000. Adult victims of non-recent sexual abuse can also get in touch for support.
- Childline is available for young people on 0800 1111or at Childline | Childline https://www.childline.org.uk/
- Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Victims who would prefer not to go direct to the police and are not in immediate danger, can contact North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), on 0330 223 0362.
- You can also contact the Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire at supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.