A “sadistic” Hull man has been found guilty of sexually abusing a child after denying all the allegations against him.
Connor Laud, 27, of Trinity House Lane, was convicted by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court of rape and two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity following a four-day trial. Laud was initially arrested after Humberside Police received a report that a child had disclosed sexual abuse they had been subjected to.
During interview by detectives, Laud denied all the allegations of abuse put to him, and claimed the child have been confused. He also denied having a sexual interest in children.
Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Gayle Allwood said: “I’d like to praise the child, and their family for their sheer bravery, I cannot begin to comprehend how they have felt throughout the entirety of this investigation and court proceedings.”
Detective Constable Allwood described Laud as “a perverted and sadistic man” who subjected an innocent child “to what can only be described as sickening abuse to fulfil his only sexual desires”, and added: “We take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and we will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predators.
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“Our specialist trained officers work closely with partnering and support agencies across the region to support victims and survivors, as well as prevent and bring justice to perpetrators of sexual crimes of any nature.
“When ready, we urge victims to come forward and tell someone, report these crimes to the police and we will do everything we can to hold those accountable.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual crimes, you can report them by calling 101, or call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is ongoing.
Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, you can report to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.