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Man jailed after abducting girl, 7, from park and sexually assaulting her

Gavin Sykes, 42, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison (Picture: Police)
Gavin Sykes, 42, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison (Picture: Police)

A man who sexually abused a seven-year-old girl after abducting her from a park in West Yorkshire has been jailed.

Gavin Sykes, 42, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison at Leeds Crown Court on Friday after admitting abducting a child and being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault.

He was also convicted of committing an offence with the intent to commit a sexual offence.

Police said the girl would have come to further harm had on duty officers not been able to deploy so rapidly.

They received a report at 7.47pm on June 20, 2019, reporting the potential abduction from Woodlands Avenue, in Holmfirth, and immediately responded.

The suspect’s Toyota Celia car was located 15 minutes later and stopped.

Leeds, England - January 18, 2018: man walking past the entrance to leeds combined magistrates and crown court building
Sykes was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court (Picture: Getty)

The victim was rescued by officers and Sykes was arrested.

He was then charged and appeared before magistrates two days later.

Police Constable Danni Nugent of the Kirklees District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Sykes is clearly an extremely dangerous individual and we are pleased to see him receive a lengthy custodial sentence for what was a dreadful offence.

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“He lured his young victim into his vehicle and it is fortunate the act was witnessed and quickly reported, prompting an immediate police response.

“We strongly believe the victim would have come to further harm had on duty officers not been able to deploy so rapidly and locate his car when they did.”

She added: “This incident has clearly been very harrowing for the victim and her family and we hope that seeing this man jailed will be of some measure of comfort for them.”