A Kirklees man who refused to admit guilt for serious sexual crimes against a teenage girl has been jailed for 11 years with an extended three-year licence after forcing his victim to endure a trial.
Nico Barraclough, 33, from Bradshaw Lane in Honley, was found guilty at Leeds Crown Court of rape, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and two offences of engaging in sexual activity with a child. He was sentenced today (23 February).
DC Paul Campbell of the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit stated Barraclough’s refusal to admit guilt “despite strong evidence of his offending” meant “he chose to put both her and her family through the ordeal of a trial and this was reflected in his sentence.”
The court heard Barraclough groomed and exploited a young and vulnerable girl between July 2023 and April 2024. He also attempted to prevent his victim from disclosing the sexual offences he was committing.
The crimes came to light in April 2024 when the teenager disclosed what Barraclough had done to her. Specialist officers at the Child Safeguarding Unit quickly launched an investigation, resulting in his arrest on 15 April.
Following further enquiries, Barraclough was charged just two days later on 17 April and appeared before magistrates shortly after. The swift progression from disclosure to arrest to charge demonstrated the priority placed on the case by Kirklees safeguarding detectives.
DC Campbell welcomed the sentencing, stating: “We welcome the sentencing of Barraclough for extremely serious sexual offending against a young and vulnerable girl.”
He praised the victim for showing “real courage in disclosing what took place” and, with her family’s support, backing both the police investigation and subsequent prosecution.
The detective expressed hope that seeing Barraclough jailed has brought the victim “some closure and comfort” following the ordeal of the trial process that Barraclough’s guilty plea refusal necessitated.
The extended licence component of Barraclough’s sentence means he will remain under supervision for three years following his release from the 11-year custodial term. This additional monitoring period reflects the serious nature of his offending and ongoing risk assessment requirements.
Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit continues urging all victims of sexual abuse to contact police, emphasising that “all reports are investigated by specialist officers with the victim’s needs at the heart of everything we do.”
The unit’s rapid response from disclosure to arrest within days, followed by immediate charging, demonstrates the investigative priority given to child safeguarding cases where vulnerable victims come forward.
Barraclough will serve a substantial portion of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole consideration, with release dependent on risk assessments determining he no longer poses a danger. The three-year extended licence will apply from the point of any release during the custodial phase.
