A child rapist who snatched his 11-year-old victim from an Ellesmere Port street as she walked home from her friend’s house was branded ‘the living embodiment of every parent’s worst nightmare’ by a judge today (April 8).

Chester Crown Court heard that on November 7 last year, 53-year-old Paul Ripley grabbed the youngster from behind and forced her into his car, then drove her hundreds of miles away to a remote field near Darlington where he raped her twice before abandoning her on a nearby housing estate with duct tape over her eyes and mouth.

Appearing at court via a video link from HMP Manchester, Ripley was jailed for 16 years after earlier pleading guilty to kidnap, two counts of raping a child under the age of 13 and one count of dangerous driving.

Held her captive

Depraved Ripley, of no fixed address, held the girl captive on the car journey and told her to shut up when she asked what he was going to do to her.

A taxi driver saw Ripley’s victim – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – running down a street in the early hours of November 8 and took her to Darlington Police Station when she told him she had been attacked.

In childlike language, she bravely recounted to police what had happened and provided them with a detailed description of Ripley and his Hyundai car.

Officers were able to track Ripley down on the M6 near Leyland.

Police chase

A police chase ensued, ending only when Ripley’s car collided with a police vehicle and then crashed into a barrier on the hard shoulder.

He was arrested and taken to Preston Police Station, where he was found to have a razor blade in his pocket.

He told police he had intended to kill himself.

Victim impact statement

In a statement read out to the court, the victim’s mother said she will never forgive Ripley for what he subjected her ‘sweet, clever and beautiful’ girl to.

Calling her daughter the ‘bravest person’ she knows, she wrote: “She was completely innocent and had her whole life in front of her.

“What that man did to her has changed her and me and our family.

“I feel her panic, her pain, confusion and fear.

“I hope and pray that what has happened to her does not impact her life going forward.”

Defending, Daniel Prowse said there is a ‘degree of remorse in this case’ indicated by his client’s guilty plea.

He said Ripley suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from ‘extreme’ neglect and ‘systematic’ sexual abuse he experienced during his childhood.

Sentencing him, Judge Nicholas Woodward disagreed with the psychiatric report that Ripley is unlikely to reoffend in the same way in future.

“You are a very dangerous man. You present a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm.

“It is clear you had an intention to rape and abduct a young child and you carried out that plan in a determined and unwavering manner.”

Ripley – who spoke only to confirm his name and remained impassive throughout the hearing – was sentenced to 24 years for the two rapes, 16 of which are to be served in custody and a further eight on licence.

He was given six years for kidnap, to be served concurrently, and will be eligible to apply for parole after serving 10 years and eight months.

Judge Woodward added: “Unfortunately, these type of offences, although very rare, cause real fear in society.

“Children’s freedom in modern society is affected by the concern generated by people like you.”