Guilty of rape and sexual assault against a young girl.

A man from North Yorkshire has been jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault against a young girl.

Carl Darren Briggs, 43, from Harrogate, was also given a two-year extended period on licence and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

North Yorkshire Police reported that Briggs' crimes were brought to their attention in June 2021 when the victim confided in family members. He was arrested shortly after.

Briggs was the subject of a thorough investigation by North Yorkshire Police, with evidence presented during a three-day trial at York Crown Court. The jury heard that the victim only realized Briggs' actions were wrong after learning about the human body in school.

In a brave victim personal statement, the young girl said, "I no longer feel good about myself, I don't like the way I look, or feel nice in anything I wear. I feel different, I cannot explain to my friends why I don't want to be around them, or why I cry without anything being said to me. I just want to feel happy about myself, and my family to be happy, but it will not be because everything has changed. I have changed since this terrible ordeal, and I feel that I will never be the same person again."

The victim's mother, in her own statement, described how she struggles to sleep at night, constantly replaying the events in her mind. She stated, "This is a living nightmare that I will deal with for the rest of my life."

Evidence gathered by North Yorkshire Police's Criminal Investigation Department included victim interviews and statements, disclosures made to counsellors, and examination of digital devices. This led to three charges being brought against Briggs:

• Two counts of rape of a child under 13 years
• Sexual assault on a child under 13 years by touching

Briggs denied all charges but was found guilty by a jury and sentenced on Friday, March 1.