Liam Fox, 34, of Darlington, has been jailed for 17 years for raping a young girl on an isolated railway embankment and sexually assaulting another young girl.
Offences came to light years later
Fox's offending came to light when the girl, who had told nobody what had happened at the time, broke down and bravely disclosed Fox's actions to her mother several years later. An investigation was then launched by Darlington Safeguarding Team.
It was later discovered that Fox had sexually abused another young girl. He was arrested and charged with rape, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Trial and sentencing
Fox denied the offences but was found guilty by a jury following a trial at Teesside Crown Court earlier this year. On Tuesday September 29 he was jailed for 17 years.
He was also made subject to a year sexual harm prevention order, restricting him from having contact with any female child under the age of 16 for 20 years. An indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting either of the girls was also imposed.
Investigative officer's statement
Investigative Officer Chris Jung, who led the investigation, said: “First and foremost, I want to commend these young women for having the bravery to disclose what had happened to police. It takes a great deal of courage to speak out against an abuser, but by standing up to Fox and having their voices heard, they have helped to take a dangerous offender off the streets, who poses a clear risk to children.
“Fox is a predator who subjected these girls to appalling abuse and then put them both through the ordeal of a trial. A jury unanimously convicted him for these offences, and I hope both survivors can take comfort from that and seeing him sentenced.”
