'I'm glad I have come forward, I want to protect other kids': Leeds sex offender brought to justice 30 years after indecently assaulting ten-year-old boy

Steven Gaukroger, 55, was in his twenties when he abused the ten-year-old victim at his home in the Woodhouse area of the city.

Leeds Crown Court heard Gaukroger has previous convictions for sex offences against at least three other children.

In 2018, he was reported to police when the victim told his mother that Gaukroger had abused him as a child.

Gaukroger was living in a basement flat in the Woodhouse area when he abused the boy in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

Richard Walters, prosecuting, said the boy first went into his flat to play games on his computer but was indecently assaulted by the defendant on two separate occasions.

Gaukroger moved flat and the victim did not see him again until a chance meeting at a public skip in 2015.

The victim told his partner about it and later told his mum while he was drunk at a party.

The court heard his mum was very distressed and reported it to police.

Gaukroger was traced to Blackpool and interviewed about the offending.

He initially denied any wrongdoing and made no comment when asked about living at the Leeds address.

In a statement, the victim said: "It's been 30 years but it's always been on my mind.

"I'm glad I have come forward. I want to protect other kids. I don't want them to go through what I did."

Gaukroger, of Derwent Road, Chorley, pleaded guilty to two offences of indecent assault.

He has convictions for offences against two other boys and a girl, on three separate incidents, in 1986, 1988 and 1998.

Anthony Parkinson, mitigating, said his client has not abused children since the 1998 matter.

He said Gaukroger has formed adult relationships since then and has 'moved away from his interest in children'.

Mr Parkinson said Gaukroger was involved in an accident at the age of eight that caused a brain injury that affected his development.

Gaukroger was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the victim and placed on the sex offender register for 10 years.

Sentencing, Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said: "Some rehabilitation has already taken place and you have managed to stay out of trouble since 1998."

Gaukroger was also made subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the victim and placed on the sex offender register for 10 years.