Victim's courage praised as sex attacker is jailed

A man has been jailed for non-recent sexual offences against a boy under the age of 13.

Officers launched an investigation into Ryan Walker, 36, after a man came forward to report sexual offences he had committed against him in the 2000s and 2010s.

Walker was found guilty of two counts of raping the boy following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court and jailed for seven years and eight months.

Det Con Christian Dixon of South Yorkshire Police praised the victim's courage and said "I know that the sexual abuse he was subject to had a devastating effect on his mental health. I hope that this sentencing gives him some sort of closure after what must have been a harrowing and traumatic ordeal."

Walker, of Bramley, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a boy under 13 by touching.

He was also cleared of a further two counts of raping a boy under the age of 13.

Walker was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order.

Dixon added: "These offences were non-recent and I hope this case shows that no matter how long ago the offending happened, we are always ready to listen and to secure justice on your behalf.

"Please remember that it is never too late to report a sexual offence and it doesn't matter how much time has passed."

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