'Pretadory man' caged for 10 years for rape of teenager at Thornton home

John Tracey, of Station Road, Gillingham, Kent was jailed at Preston Crown Court yesterday following the offence which took place in November 1996.

The victim, who was 14 at the time of the attack, did not report the incident to police until 2015.

She claimed she was given alcohol before Tracey, who lived in Thornton at the time, sexually assaulted her.

Following an investigation by Lancashire Police, the 42-year-old was charged by detectives last year.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence but following a trial was found guilty .

Det Con Emma Shuttleworth, of Lancashire Police’s Sexual Offenders Management Unit, said: “Tracey is clearly a predatory man who overpowered his victim at a former address in Thornton and subjected her to a horrific ordeal.

“I am pleased he has been brought to justice and he will now be in prison for a significant period of time.

“The victim in this case has shown a tremendous amount of courage throughout this investigation and subsequent trial and I hope the result will allow her to begin to put this ordeal behind her and move forward with her life.

“If anyone has been the victim of a sexual offence, I would urge them to come forward and report it to us in the knowledge that we take all reports seriously and ensure that victims are treated sensitively and professionally at all times.”