One of the victims said ‘I’m at peace knowing you’ll suffer for what you have done, not only to myself, but to others’
A child rapist described as a “vile animal” by one of his victims has been jailed for 25 years after committing a “string of horrific sexual offences” against young girls. Roy Borrowdale, 67, of Driffield, repeatedly denied the offences but was convicted by a jury of eight counts of sexual abuse.
They included raping a girl under 13, raping a girl aged 13 to 15, assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and five counts of sexual assault on a female. He was found not guilty of raping a woman aged 16 or over.
In a powerful victim impact statement, one of Borrowdale’s victims told a court how he had “waited until I was vulnerable to strip me of my dignity”, adding that he made her feel “ashamed and dirty”. She added: “What you did to me has damaged my enjoyment with intimacy, my trust with men and most importantly my relationship with myself. Telling me it was my fault; I was responsible and I got what I deserved.
“But the only responsible one in that situation was you. I’m at peace knowing you’ll suffer for what you have done not only to myself, but to others who were unfortunate in knowing the vile animal you really are.”
Another of his victims wrote in her statement that Borrowdale “groomed and manipulated” her to the point she was “completely under his control”. She added: “The abuse has clouded a lot of my childhood, and I lost my sense of self and who I was. This is something I have spent years trying to rebuild and I am still working on every day.”
The investigation into Borrowdale’s horrific crimes started in 2018 when one of his victims reported sexual offences that he had committed against her in the early 2010s. A “disturbing trail of abuse” then emerged as her testimony led to other victims coming forward.
Police seized his phone and found incriminating evidence consistent with grooming. However, Borrowdale denied his involvement and claimed others had access to his phone at his workplace.
His refusal to admit the offences meant his victims had to endure a trial and relive the traumatic abuse they faced. Following his conviction, Borrowdale was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court this week to 25 years’ imprisonment with an additional 12 months to be served on licence. He was also handed a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.
Leading the Humberside Police investigation was Detective Constable Nichola Oakley from the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit who said: “Whilst no sentence can truly reflect the trauma and lasting impact of this man’s calculated and prolonged abuse, I hope today’s outcome provides some reassurance to the victims and their families that an utterly deplorable man is now behind bars and unable to inflict any more harm to them or any other child.
“The bravery and strength shown by the victims and their families cannot be underestimated, and the patience and perseverance they have shown throughout what has been a very complex investigation spanning over two police forces is commendable. I’d also like to praise all officers involved from South Yorkshire Police for their hard work and dedication as they gathered a significant amount of evidence to build a case against Borrowdale, ultimately getting him to court and held accountable for his abhorrent crimes.
“Finally, I want to take a moment to thank the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor from Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service (DRASACS) for her continued support of the victims throughout the entire process. Their ongoing efforts are crucial in helping victims find a voice and access the care and support they deserve. For anyone seeking further support or information, I encourage you to visit the DRASACS website.
“It is never the victim’s fault, and I would strongly appeal to any child who is being manipulated into doing something they don’t want to do, or anyone who suspects crimes of this nature are taking place, to please speak to a trusted adult or friend, and report it to us when you are ready. It doesn’t matter if the offences happened five hours or 50 years ago, we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring offenders like Borrowdale to justice.”
Detective Constable David Harrison, the South Yorkshire officer in charge of the case, said of Borrowdale: “By repeatedly denying the offences, he forced a trial, meaning his victims had to relive the horrors of the crimes he committed against them. I am pleased a jury was able to convict on eight of the nine counts he faced and that a significant custodial sentence has been handed out to him.
“None of this would have been possible without the brave testimonies of his victims and I want to thank them for coming forward and telling us about the horrific abuse committed by Borrowdale. This was a complex investigation spanning seven years and I hope the passing of this sentence brings them closure and allows them to rebuild and move on with their lives after such an awful ordeal.
“The crimes Borrowdale has been sentenced for were non-recent, and I hope this case shows that it doesn’t matter how long ago the offending happened. We are always here to listen, and we will always strive to secure justice on your behalf.
“Please remember that it is never too late to report a sexual offence. If you have been a victim or you know someone who has been a victim of this crime, please know that we are here to listen to you and support you through every step of the process.”