A ‘DANGEROUS’ Coventry rapist who went on the run to avoid arrest after he repeatedly abused an underage girl has been jailed for more than 22 years.
Scott Salisbury, 39, from Tile Hill, pleaded guilty to rape and causing a child to engage in sexual activity and was sentenced in his absence at Warwick Crown Court to 22 years and six months in prison.
He was also given a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a lifelong restraining order against his victim.
Salisbury raped the girl, who was a teenager at the time, on a number of occasions over a four year period.
The victim, now an adult, bravely reported the offences to police.
Salisbury became aware he’d been reported and attempted to evade capture.
Last December, following a 10-day search, officers arrested Salisbury with the help of West Midlands Police’s Dogs and Drones units.
Salisbury made no comment when interviewed by officers from the force’s Rape and Serious Sexual Assault (RASSO) team.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “Our investigation involving helping the female find the right support to empower her to face Salisbury in court.
“She courageously took to the witness stand at court to provide a personal statement.
“She was thanked by the judge in court, who also said Salisbury’s absence from court for sentencing was failing to do the one decent thing he could do.”
Temporary Det Sgt Evie Griffiths, from the Eastern RASSO team, said: “This was a truly horrendous case, and the fact Salisbury went on the run to try and avoid facing up to what he had done speaks volumes.
“Thanks to the victim’s bravery in coming forward to tell her story, and put her trust in the police and criminal justice system, we have taken a truly dangerous sex offender off the streets.
“In the RASSO team, we investigate all reports of rape and sexual abuse, no matter how long ago they took place.
“We would encourage anyone who has suffered sex offences to come forward and tell their story.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/mv8tnshb for information on how to report rape, sexual assault or other sexual offences.
