Dangerous disabled Pudsey paedophile who systematically raped children is jailed for 32 years
Judge described disabled vile pervert as “manipulative and controlling”
A paedophile who spent years raping and sexually assaulting children as young as one has been an extended 32-year sentence.
Vile Jason Spence was found guilty after a three-week trial at Leeds Crown Court of a catalogue of horrific abuse.
He represented himself during the trial and remains defiant, claiming he was not given a fair trial, which was dismissed by the presiding Judge Richard Mansell KC who told him the evidence against him was “compelling”.
Spence, 38, appeared in court for sentencing over a video link from HMP Leeds, but had to be muted because he remained indignant and refused to stay quiet.
Judge Mansell described him as having a “distorted sexual attraction” to children.
The court heard that he had four victims, male and female, aged between one and four. Spence had even filmed some of the abuse which was recovered by police.
They found evidence that he had also downloaded child-abuse images from the internet.
After his crimes came to light, he fled the country for over a month, having travelled to Ireland, before being arrested and remanded.
The court was told that Spence, of Roker Lane, Pudsey, was disabled and used a wheelchair to get around, and had autism spectrum disorder.
He was eventually convicted of five counts of rape of children, four counts of sexual assaults on children, cruelty to a child, two counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing prohibited images of children.
Judge Mansell told him: “You are not only an entrenched paedophile but a very controlling and manipulative individual to do what it take to act out those desires.
“This makes you highly dangerous to children.”
He handed him a 24-year custodial sentence, with an eight-year extended licence period. He must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial part before being considered for parole.
Spence was put on the sex offender register for life and given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order.
Detective Constable Gemma Varley, of Leeds District Safegaurding, said: “What these children have endured at such a young age is unimaginable.
“This was a complex investigation that required extremely sensitive handling, balancing the need to gain evidence to ensure Spence was convicted with being careful and considerate of the trauma that these young victims had already been exposed to.
"The officer who led on this investigation, Nicki Vincent, has since retired but returned to give evidence during the trial, helping to ensure Spence has been held accountable for his actions."