October 2017: Langford has now been released

February 2012

Rapist who befriended vulnerable child is jailed

SEX offender Richard Langford has been jailed for 12 years after raping a young girl on a number of occasions.

He befriended the vulnerable victim and took advantage of her after buying her treats, alcohol and cigarettes, a court heard.

Langford, 42, of Tennyson House, Grimsby, admitted five offences of rape and another of attempted rape.

He was originally due to face trial at Grimsby Crown Court, but pleaded guilty after Judge Jeremy Baker QC was asked for an indication of the maximum sentence likely to be imposed if Langford admitted the offences.

David Dixon, prosecuting, said Langford won the girl’s confidence after taking her out to McDonald’s, giving her alcohol and buying her cigarettes.

He later raped her while they were in a car.

Langford had sex with her on a series of other occasions after that and used some force in dragging her around during the attempted rape incident.

He bought her a necklace and a bracelet on one occasion – arousing the suspicions of her mother.

The girl later told a friend about what had happened to her.

Craig Lowe, mitigating, said Langford’s guilty pleas had spared the girl from the ordeal of giving evidence to a jury.

He had previous convictions for dishonesty matters, but this would be his first taste of prison.

He had spent 119 days in custody.

Judge Baker said the offences were in the top bracket of seriousness for that type of offence.

Langford was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

He was also given a sexual offences prevention order, banning him from being in, or remaining in, any property with a child aged under 16, unless one of their parents was present or he had written permission.

He was also banned from having any contact with the victim.

Langford was also banned from working with children.