Child rapist who fled country jailed for 24 years

A child rapist who went on the run after he was convicted before being arrested in Ireland has been jailed for 24 years.

Jason Spence, from Leeds, fled the country after he was found guilty of four counts of rape and five counts of assault by touching, as well as making and possessing indecent images of children.

The 38-year-old, whose four victims were all under the age of 13, was on the run for 33 days before he was detained and returned to the UK.

Det Con Susan Abbott from West Yorkshire Police said: "I hope that knowing he is now in prison helps those who have been involved in this awful case as they continue to try and rebuild their lives."

Spence, of Pudsey, was released on conditional bail after he was convicted at Leeds Crown Court in April, but a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to attend court later that month to be sentenced.

He was sentenced at the same court earlier and was told he would spend eight years on licence after his release from prison.

Abbott said West Yorkshire Police worked closely with their Irish counterparts, An Garda Síochána, to find Spence.

Det Con Gemma Varley, from Leeds District Safeguarding within West Yorkshire Police, said Spence's victims had endured "unimaginable" suffering.

She added: "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."

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