A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of a historical rape in Thornton.



John Tracey, of Station Road, Gillingham, was jailed at Preston Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday, March 14) following an offence in November 1996.

Police received a report in 2015 from a woman who alleged Tracey had attacked her at his flat.

The victim, aged 14 at the time of the incident, was given alcohol before Tracey sexually assaulted her.

Following an investigation by Lancashire Police, the 42-year-old was charged by detectives in 2016.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence but following a trial was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Det Con Emma Shuttleworth, of Lancashire Police’s Sexual Offenders Management Unit, said: “Tracey is clearly a predatory man who overpowered his victim at a former address in Thornton and subjected her to a horrific ordeal.

“I am pleased he has been brought to justice and he will now be in prison for a significant period of time.

“The victim in this case has shown a tremendous amount of courage throughout this investigation and subsequent trial and I hope the result will allow her to begin to put this ordeal behind her and move forward with her life.

“If anyone has been the victim of a sexual offence, I would urge them to come forward and report it to us in the knowledge that we take all reports seriously and ensure that victims are treated sensitively and professionally at all times.”