Banbury child rapist jailed for molesting three girls

The girl – one of three who was abused by David Ruddick in Banbury – was described by prosecutor Edward Lucas as growing up ‘in some squalor’ and ‘never had any money to buy clothes for herself and other personal items’.

Mr Lucas told Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday (July 25): “[The defendant] offered her money to perform sexual acts.

“He would write these down on pieces of paper and give them to her.” On the pieces of paper were ‘various amounts’ he would pay in return for the different sexual activities.

The victim felt she had ‘no choice’ other than comply with the vile demands of now 57-year-old Ruddick, the court heard.

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He also targeted two other girls. He plied them with alcohol and showed them pornography.

One of the victims told police officers: “He would literally pay us to touch his [genitals].” Their abuser was ‘always drunk’ when he exploited them.

All three victims penned impact statements. Although they were not read out in open court at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Mr Lucas summarised: “All three are devastated.”

Ruddick, of Christchurch Court, Banbury, initially denied any wrongdoing when he was arrested and interviewed by the police.

But he later pleaded guilty to allegations of rape on the oldest victim, indecent assault on the same girl, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and causing a child to watch a sexual act.

Mitigating, Andrew Wilkins noted the unusual fact that his client had pleaded guilty to the offences and asked the judge to give Ruddick credit for admitting what he had done.

In ‘some sort of warped way’, the defendant was said to have thought he was ‘strengthening bonds’ with his victims.

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Told of this bizarre thinking, Judge Ian Pringle KC spat: “I find that utterly unacceptable.” Ruddick’s offending was just to ‘satisfy his own lust’, the judge concluded.

The defendant, who appeared in the dock wearing a denim shirt and blue jeans and spoke only to confirm his name, spent most of the sentencing hearing with his head angled downwards.

David Ruddick Picture: TVP (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Jailing him for 12 years, Judge Pringle told Ruddick: “These were young children who were utterly vulnerable.”

He found the defendant to be ‘dangerous’ and imposed an extended four year licence period.

Welcoming the sentence, DC Jake Freeman of the child abuse investigation unit praised the ‘bravery’ shown by the victims.

“While nothing will change the impact of this man’s offences on the victims, it is my hope that they will now be able to put these awful events behind them and move on with their lives. I hope they can now find some comfort following Ruddick’s sentencing,” he said.

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