Cleckheaton man jailed for sexual offences against teenager
A Cleckheaton man has been jailed after admitting seriously sexual offending against a vulnerable teenager.
Stuart Murgatroyd was sentenced to four years in prison at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday November 27 for serious offences in the Kirklees area.
The 31-year-old was jailed after admitting three sexual activity with a child offences on a teenage girl at an address in the Kirklees area on May 11, 2025.
The offences were reported to police by the victim and her family on the same day, leading to Murgatroyd’s arrest within hours.
He was charged with offending and appeared before Leeds Magistrate’s Court on 13 May, before later pleading guilty at Leeds Crown Court on 22 September.
Murgatroyd will be required on sign on the Sex Offenders Register on his release from prison.
DC Paul Campbell of the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit, said: “This has been an awful case in which Murgatroyd took advantage of a vulnerable teenage girl and then committed serious sexual offences against her.
“We welcome his guilty plea which spared her the ordeal of a trial but the truth of the matter was that the strength of the evidence against him gave him little option.”
He added: “I also want to pay tribute to the courage of the victim and her family. They very swiftly reported the offence, leading to Murgatroyd’s rapid arrest, charge and remand, ensuring a sexual predator was very quickly off our streets.
“We fully appreciate how hard it can be for victims to come forward but by doing so and supporting the police and CPS as bravely as we have seen in this case, they can help achieve justice and make sure men offenders such as Murgatroyd answer for their crimes.”