Paedophile Jailed for 18 Years for 'Horrific Offences'

Richard Tate, 34, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for seven counts of rape. The offenses took place between 2021 and 2022. Tate pleaded guilty to the charges in September and was sentenced yesterday at Worcester Crown Court.

In February, West Mercia Police issued a public appeal for help locating Tate, who had gone missing from Redditch. He was last seen on February 19.

Detective Sergeant Paul Willetts stated: "Tate committed these horrific offenses against a child over a period of time to gain sexual gratification and destroyed a young life. I would like to pay tribute and commend the victim in this harrowing case for alerting the police to Tate's crimes, which has allowed us to bring him to justice. We hope the conviction and this substantial prison sentence will bring some measure of comfort."