A MAN who "preyed on" two young girls in offending that included the rape of a 12 year-old in the back of his car has been jailed for nearly 13 years.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Richard Halliday, 36, was caught by a neighbour who raised the alarm after seeing him sitting on his front step with his hand up the girl's top.

Prosecutor Michael Greenhalgh said that in May last year, Halliday was with the girl outside his Bradford home before the pair then got into the defendant's car.

After around 45 minutes, they went into the house, at which point Halliday's neighbour challenged him about his behaviour.

He denied any wrongdoing, but was later arrested. 

The court heard that while in the car, Halliday had kissed and assaulted the girl, also forcing her to perform an oral sex act upon him.

Police seized his underpants, and forensic experts later found a mixture of his and the girl's DNA inside.

Speaking to police, the girl said Halliday, of Wrose Road, Shipley, had assaulted her on previous occasions when she was the same age.

The court was told he had exposed himself to her, before kissing her on her mouth, breasts, and genitals, telling her she was "hot and sexy."

On one occasion he invited her to his house saying that he had some kittens to show her, but when in his bedroom, orally raped and assaulted her.

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Halliday's remand in custody in May last year then prompted further complaints against him from a second victim.

The girl said the defendant had assaulted her "a number of times" between the ages of seven and 12, including putting his hands inside her underwear as she played with a jigsaw puzzle.

In a victim impact statement, the second girl's father said his daughter had been left "very anxious and tearful" over having to relive her ordeal, stating: "I can't take away the pain or fear. I feel helpless."

Halliday had been due to stand trial early last month, but in the days leading up to the hearing entered guilty pleas to two counts of the rape of a child under 13, one count of assault by penetration, and three counts of sexual assault.

He was also charged with the production of a class B drug after a police search of his home in February found 15 cannabis plants with a potential yield of between £3,000 and £7,000.

John Batchelor, defending, said his client's only mitigation was his guilty pleas and the fact he now "fully accepted" his offending.

He said: "He (Halliday) is disgusted at his own behaviour, recognising he has preyed on these victims."

Judge Robert Bartfield said Halliday had left the parents of his victims "facing their worst nightmare."

On how the defendant was caught, he said: "Fortunately a neighbour saw something which worried him, noting that the child was physically close to you in an inappropriate way. He reported the matter, and thank god he did."

Referring to Halliday's offending, the judge said: "It's only when forensic evidence came to light that you realised there was no way out of this.

"I am unable to accept you have any real remorse for what you did. It was only at the 11th hour that you accepted it."

Halliday was jailed for 12 years and nine months, and made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. 

Speaking after the sentencing, detective constable Polly Jackson, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: "We would like to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and hope that the outcome will give them some closure.

"We would also like to thank those who reported their concerns about Halliday. Their diligence in doing this not only helped us to safeguard his victims from further abuse, but may well have prevented other young girls from being targeted by him.

"Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we would encourage others who may have concerns about what appear to be inappropriate relationships between children and adults to report these, so we can investigate these matters further.

"We would also encourage any victims who have not yet come forward to speak with our specially trained officers, who will investigate all reports sensitively and thoroughly so steps can be taken to protect the victims and to bring the perpetrators to justice."