Stamford child rapist jailed for 24 years

Michael Brian Hayes (65) was convicted of 18 sexual offences, including six charges of rape, after a trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

The offences occurred between 2008 and 2015.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hirst told Hayes: “Your abuse, which you carried out for your own gratification, has rightly been described as a campaign.”

Hayes, of Hillary Close, Stamford, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

The judge told him: “My assessment of you today is that you are dangerous.”

Duncan O’Donnell, prosecuting, told the court two of the victims were young girls and the third was a young boy.

Mr O’Donnell read out statements from two of the victims who both described their “anger” and episodes of self harm as a result of the abuse.

Hayes was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment and must also serve an extended licence period of two further years following his release from jail.

Mark Watson, mitigating, told the court Hayes was not a healthy and fit young man.

Mr Watson said: “He is under constant watch and has been since he was remanded in to custody.

“Shortly before his trial he was hospitalised, and that wasn’t his first effort to harm himself.”