Child rapist with abuse images jailed for 22 years

A man has been jailed for raping and sexually assaulting a girl and possessing 149 indecent images of children.

Ian Moffat, 63 and from York, admitted possessing the images in September 2025 but denied abusing the girl.

He was found guilty of six counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault following a one-day trial at York Crown Court on 9 July.

At the same court on Thursday, he was sentenced to 22 years and eight months in prison and was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Moffat was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order until further notice and the court ordered the destruction of a computer tower.

The abuse was disclosed to North Yorkshire Police in December 2023.

After his initial arrest, Moffat's digital devices were seized and the child abuse images were discovered.

Of those, 21 were Category A images, the most severe category of abuse, 18 were Category B and 110 Category C.

Det Con James Stewart, from North Yorkshire Police's Safeguarding Investigation Team, said: "During each interview, Moffat only replied with 'no comment' and by pleading not guilty shows his lack of acceptance of any responsibility for the horrendous sexual abuse he subjected his victim to for a number of years.

"I praise the victim for having the courage to report the abuse she endured, and commend her bravery for seeing through the investigation."

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