‘Horrible’ 42-year-old man who repeatedly raped young girl must go to prison

A man who repeatedly raped a young girl over a long period of time has been sentenced to more than 19 years in prison.

Anthony Reynolds, 42, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday. He admitted two counts of rape of a child under the age of 13, one of which involved no fewer than ten rapes. He also admitted raping a child over the age of 13.

The judge and police praised the young girl for her bravery when she appeared in court for the sentencing of Reynolds.

In January, the victim reported the crimes to her school and her mother, and the police were also informed.

Reynolds had told police that she had systematically raped the girl over several years, including several days before the allegations were uncovered.

He was arrested and the girl’s clothing was forensically examined. His sperm was found, police said.

The investigation was led by Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Child Abuse Investigation Team and he was subsequently charged with the offences.

The court heard that Reynolds had initially denied the multiple rapes and attempted to plead guilty to less serious offences, but this was not accepted by the prosecution.

He later admitted to the rapes, which took place between 2019 and earlier this year, at a hearing on June 7.

Prosecutor Ellen McAnaw read statements to the court on behalf of the victim and her mother.

The victim said: “It affected me at school because I couldn’t concentrate because I couldn’t think of anything else.”

“Now that I have told someone and will never see them again, I feel relieved and safer…

“Sometimes I think I don’t want to be here anymore, but then I think there is so much to live for and I will never give up.”

Her mother said in her statement: “My daughter will undoubtedly carry this with her for the rest of her life.

“What this man did to my daughter has completely destroyed me.”

Reynolds, from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, changed his plea to guilty just days before his scheduled hearing.

His defense attorney said the facts were not disputed, Reynolds took full responsibility for his actions and was aware of the implications and lasting consequences.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC rejected a request from Reynolds’ defence for a 25 per cent reduction in his sentence and instead granted him a lesser sentence of 12.5 per cent for his guilty plea.

He sentenced Reynolds to 19 years and three months in prison for the multiple rape count and approximately 13 years (157 months) in prison for the other two rape counts, to be served concurrently.

After the verdict, Detective Inspector Nick Wheeler of the Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “Reynolds subjected the child to a horrific ordeal over a long period of time and deserves to spend all these years behind bars for what he did.”