Four years' jail for man guilty of historic sexual offences

Andrew Tate (52), of Broadlands, Bramley, was convicted of three counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child last week following a trial.

He shook his head throughout the sentencing today (Friday) at Sheffield Crown Court, where he appeared via videolink from Doncaster Prison.

Judge Michael Slater said he would sentence Tate on the basis he committed the offences when he was aged no older than 17.

The court heard Tate forced the schoolgirl, who was aged between eight and ten, to perform sex acts on him on three separate occasions over a two-year period.

The judge said he targeted the vulnerable girl and didn’t regard Tate as being immature at the time of the offending.

“I am quite sure you knew what you were doing was wrong and there’s no suggestion you were suffering from any deficit from learning or understanding,” the judge said.

Tate’s victim took to the stand to read out an emotional victim impact statement in which she said the abuse “had impacted on every single aspect of my life”.

Tate will serve half of his sentence on licence.

Investigating officer Det Con Craig Hayward said: “The victim and her family displayed tremendous courage throughout a lengthy investigation and it is only fitting that her abuser received a custodial sentence.

“She was a child under ten years old when Tate’s horrific abuse began and it has been recognised that the victim suffered, and continues to suffer, significant psychological harm as a result of the trauma she suffered.

“I hope that the conclusion of the trial will allow her and her family to finally move on with their lives.”

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