A sex offender has been jailed for attempting to rape a girl under the age of 13 at a wake following a funeral. Kyle Tyson, now 20, formerly of Chorley, was sentenced to nine years in prison after a jury found him guilty of attempted rape of a child under 13 and sexual assault.
Tyson was 17 when he committed the offences in Preston in 2022. The victim, who was under 13 at the time, has been profoundly impacted by his actions, according to LancsLive.
Victim's statement read to court
In a Victim Personal Statement read to the court at Tyson's sentencing hearing on Friday at Preston Crown Court, the girl said: "I was a child who should have been able to enjoy life. Instead, I was left carrying trauma that I was far too young to comprehend."
She described developing severe anxiety that became so overwhelming she could not go to school, and eventually stopped attending. "While other children my age were able to continue their education and enjoy their teenage years, I was struggling with the consequences of what had happened to me and at the time, I felt like I had no one to turn to," she said.
Sentence and court orders
Appearing at Preston Crown Court Sessions House last Friday, Tyson was given a nine-year sentence, comprising six years custody and three years on extended licence. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and made subject of a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The trial took place in June, where the jury delivered the guilty verdicts.
Police response
DC Nikki Houghton of Lancashire Police said: "This was an horrendous and traumatic ordeal for the young victim. I hope that Kyle Tyson being convicted of these serious offences and given a significant custodial sentence brings her a sense of justice."
Houghton urged victims of sexual offences to report them, stating: "Lancashire Police will listen to you, support you and investigate in order to put offenders before the courts."
