In July 2026, a 33-year-old man from Hampshire was handed a 27-year extended sentence at Guildford Crown Court after being found guilty of multiple charges of rape and sexual assault committed against a young child over several years.
Luke Ridley, of Yateley, appeared for sentence on Thursday 23 July 2026 following a contested Crown Court trial that concluded with convictions across multiple counts of serious child sexual abuse.
The prosecution outlined that Ridley first began targeting the victim when she was just five years old, engaging in a calculated pattern of grooming and manipulation. The court heard that Ridley subjected the young child to sexual assaults on at least a twice-weekly basis, with the offending escalating to rape during the first national lockdown in 2020.
The sustained abuse came to light in January 2021 when the victim, then aged 11, bravely disclosed to a family member that Ridley had raped her. A specialised police investigation was immediately launched by Surrey Police, gathering extensive evidence to support the victim’s account and bring formal charges against Ridley.
At the sentencing hearing, the victim, now 17 years of age, delivered her victim impact statement in person to the court. Addressing Ridley directly in the dock, she stated: “You made me a victim, but today I stand in front of you a survivor.”
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Butterworth praised the young woman’s extraordinary fortitude, noting that she had shown immense resilience in giving evidence against Ridley throughout the police investigation and during the Crown Court trial.
Passing sentence, the trial judge determined that Ridley posed a substantial ongoing risk of serious harm, warranting an extended determinate sentence under statutory dangerous offender legislation.
The court sentenced Ridley to 22 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence period of five years, creating a total sentence length of 27 years. Under statutory provisions for extended custodial sentences, Ridley will be required to serve at least two-thirds of the 22-year term before being eligible for consideration for parole release by the Parole Board.
In addition to the custodial term, the court placed Ridley on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely for the remainder of his life and imposed comprehensive statutory protective orders.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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