He has been given a new prison sentence after more horrific offences against children came to light
Paul Tyler(Image: Humberside Police)
A “grotesque” man who has been serving a 16-year prison sentence has been handed a further 18-year term for the rape and abuse of two children. Paul Tyler was originally jailed in 2012 for sexual offences against children in the West Yorkshire area.
Tyler, 66, of Bridlington, admitted 11 additional offences that came to light more recently with police commending the “immense courage” of the victims involved coming forward. The convictions came following a “complex four-year investigation” by detectives from Humberside Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.
Enquiries began in August 2022 when a man visited Bridlington Police Station and told officers Tyler had raped him multiple times when he was a child. Detectives carried out extensive enquiries into what were “quickly established to be complex, non-recent sexual offences”.
The investigation included liaising with colleagues from neighbouring forces, gathering witness and victim impact statements, and collating third-party material to stack up the evidence against Tyler to present to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), leading to him being charged in August 2024.
He admitted five counts of rape of a boy under 13 and sexual assault of a boy under 13 in December 2024. However, sentencing of those offences was postponed due to a third-party report police received a month earlier in which a woman had disclosed non-recent sexual abuse as a child. Tyler was named as the offender.
In September last year, he was charged following this second investigation and he admitted a range of offences in November. These included two counts of causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, rape of a girl under 13, sexual assault of a girl under 13, and assault by penetration of a girl under 13.
Following his latest convictions, the three years left of Tyler’s existing 16-year sentence will run concurrently, with the 18-year sentenced handed out this week to run consecutively meaning he could spend “the rest of his life” behind bars. He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Following Tyler’s appearance at Hull Crown Court, investigating officer Detective Constable Clare Gascoigne said: “I want to first commend the extraordinary bravery shown by the man and woman who came forward and reported Tyler’s offending against them when they were just children. These offences took place many years ago, and coming forward to report abuse suffered as a child requires immense courage.
“Their strength in speaking out has been vital in bringing this offender to justice, and by doing this, they have not only sought accountability for what was done to them but also helped protect other children. I’d also like to recognise the invaluable support provided by colleagues from one of our neighbouring forces, West Yorkshire Police, and the unwavering dedication from all officers involved in both investigations, along with the support from the CPS throughout the entirety of this protracted investigation into Tyler’s grotesque offending.
“Acknowledging The Blue Door service too, whose advocacy and specialist support gave both the man and woman confidence to engage in the criminal justice process. The role of independent support services such as The Blue Door is crucial in helping victims feel believed, supported and empowered.
“Non-recent child sexual abuse often goes unreported for decades because of feelings of fear, shame, or worries about not being believed. This case demonstrates that we will always take such allegations seriously, regardless of how much time has passed, and we will investigate them thoroughly and sensitively.
“Whilst today’s outcome does not take away the pain and suffering the man and woman have endured, I hope it provides them with some reassurance that Tyler will remain in prison for the rest of his life, unable to cause any more harm to children in our communities. We would encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, whether it was six days or six years ago, to come forward and tell someone when you are ready. You will be listened to, supported and taken seriously.”