Victim’s “immense bravery” praised by detective after Ryedale child abuser is jailed for 21 years

The detective who led a non-recent child abuse investigation in Ryedale has praised the “immense bravery” of the victim.

At York Crown Court on Friday (27 September 2024), Dean Martin Blackwell  was jailed for 21 years for a series of rapes and sexual assaults on the then young girl.

 

 

The 54-year-old (pictured above), now of Stokesley, was also handed an extended licence period of one year, placed on the Register of Sex Offenders for life and made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Following a trial in July, Blackwell was found guilty of two counts of raping a child and four counts of sexual assault.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now an adult. She reported the sexual abuse she had suffered as a child to the police in 2022.

This set-in motion an intensive investigation, during which she has received ongoing support from specialist officers and partner agencies.

Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Beverley Garbutt, from Scarborough and Ryedale CID, said: “The level of trauma and pain the victim has endured throughout her young life is difficult to comprehend.

“She has shown immense bravery in seeking and securing justice. I hope the outcome at court provides additional strength to rebuild her life.”

DS Garbutt added: “As for Blackwell, the sickening child abuse he committed all those years ago has finally caught up with him with this significant prison sentence.

“He has also been made subject to robust safeguarding measures to manage his behaviour for the rest of his days.”

Seeking further support, advice and ways of reporting child abuse

• Please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. If you are in immediate danger, always dial 999 for an emergency response
• Victims who would prefer not to go direct to the police and are not in immediate danger, can contact Bridge House, North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), on 0330 223 0362, email [email protected] or go to bridgehousesarc.org/
• You can also contact Supporting Victims direct at supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100
• NSPCC Helplines: * Help for adults concerned about a child – call 0808 800 5000 * Help for children and young people – call Childline on 0800 1111 * Go to nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse

• Stop it now! – www.stopitnow.org.uk – seek anonymous and confidential help if you or someone you know could be a sexual risk to children