Sicko pensioner, 90, jailed after raping stepdaughter, 14, and making her pregnant

A 90-year-old former carpenter from Purfleet-on-Thames, Essex, has been sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to 11 counts of raping a child under the age of 16 during the 1970s. Daniel Delves appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where the full extent of a sustained campaign of grooming and sexual abuse against his then-partner's daughter was detailed by prosecuting counsel.

The case represents one of the most protracted historical sexual abuse prosecutions to reach sentencing in the Essex area in recent years. Delves, who was in a relationship with the victim's mother at the time, began abusing the girl when she was just 13 years old.

Delves' Early Life and Family Background

Details regarding Delves' personal life and family background emerged during the sentencing hearing. Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that Delves, a former carpenter by trade, was in a relationship with the victim's mother during the 1970s when the abuse began.

The court heard that Delves has two other adult children from a different relationship which commenced after his relationship with the mother of the girl he abused ended. No information regarding Delves' ethnicity, country of origin, or extended family network was disclosed during the proceedings at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

The Abuse and Its Aftermath

Prosecuting counsel Richard Sedgwick told the court that Delves raped his victim multiple times in her bedroom and in his car. The court heard he told the girl he was preparing her for what boys would do to her, using this grotesque justification to normalise his criminal conduct. Delves also convinced the child not to tell her mother about the abuse.

When the teenager became pregnant at 14, Delves persuaded her to inform her mother that a boy from her school was the unborn child's father. After the baby was born, the girl's mother raised the child as her own, unaware of the true paternity.

The abuse did not cease. The court heard Delves continued to rape his stepdaughter after the child was born, including an incident where he pulled up alongside her as she walked to school, forced her into his car, and abused her in the vehicle.

A Justice System Failed the First Time

The victim told her aunt about the abuse and reported it to police in the 1970s. Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that an investigation was opened at that time. However, the case was dropped after the girl's mother persuaded her to say the allegations were not true.

The court heard Delves only stopped when the girl was nearly 16, after her mother accused her of being in a relationship with him and struck her. In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman described the lasting trauma she has endured. She said she has required antidepressants and counselling and has experienced suicidal thoughts.

She stated that being raped is not just something that happens to you, but something that never goes away. She added that the whole ordeal has been a nightmare and that she felt she could have done so much more with her life had it not occurred.

The 2023 Investigation and Prosecution

The victim reported the abuse to police again in 2023, a decision which ultimately led to Delves being prosecuted. The renewed investigation gathered sufficient evidence to charge Delves with multiple counts of rape.

Defending, Yogain Chandarana, told the court that Delves had initially denied the charges before pleading guilty during his trial. The defence claimed Delves is very sorry for the wrong he did in his younger days and has regretted his actions his whole life.

Sentencing Remarks and Compensation

Sentencing Delves, His Honour Judge James Willan KC said the defendant came to occupy a position of trust over his victim and played the role of her father. The judge stated that in reality, Delves was grooming her, showing her affection like a father would while betraying that trust by abusing her and persuading her that what he was doing was normal and that she had to keep it secret.

Delves was convicted of 11 counts of raping a child under 16. He was also ordered to pay his victim £135,000 in compensation.