A Wakefield man has been sentenced to three years in prison for sexual offences against a teenager in Calderdale.

Luke Townend, 25, was found guilty of causing a male to engage in sexual activity without consent and breach of an existing sexual harm prevention order following a three-day trial at Bradford Crown Court. The court heard that Townend contacted his teenage victim online and committed the offences against him in 2024.

Townend was arrested on 19 August 2024 and charged two days later, before going on trial in February this year. DS Darren Heald of the Calderdale Safeguarding Online Child Abuse Investigation Team welcomed the sentencing.

"We are pleased to see Townend behind bars for the sexual offences he committed against a vulnerable victim, who he treated in the most predatory and exploitative fashion," said DS Heald. "I want to commend the courage of the victim in coming forwards to report the offending against him and then supporting a prosecution."

"His bravery has helped ensure this male has been made to answer for his criminal offending. All reports of sexual offending made in Calderdale or anywhere else in West Yorkshire are investigated by specialist safeguarding detectives and we continue to urge victims to come forwards. All reports will be thoroughly investigated with the needs of victims at the heart of our investigations."