90-Year-Old Man Jailed 16 Years for Raping Stepdaughter, 14, While “Preparing Her for Boys”

For decades, the truth remained buried. A 14-year-old girl was groomed and repeatedly raped by the man who was supposed to be a father figure in her life. Now, almost half a century later, her abuser has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Daniel Delves, 90, has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of 11 counts of raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter in the 1970s. The former carpenter groomed the girl, repeatedly sexually abused her and fathered a child with her. He was also ordered to pay £135,000 compensation.

A 90-year-old man who repeatedly raped his 14-year-old stepdaughter after grooming her as a teenager has been jailed for 16 years in the UK.

Daniel Delves, a former carpenter from Purfleet-on-Thames, Essex, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court after being convicted of 11 counts of raping a child under 16.

The court heard that Delves began grooming the girl when she was 13 in the 1970s, while he was in a relationship with her mother.

He reportedly told the girl that he was “preparing her for what boys would do to her” before repeatedly raping her in her bedroom and in his car.

He also persuaded her to keep the abuse secret from her mother.

Girl became pregnant after the abuse

The girl became pregnant during the period of abuse.

However, Delves reportedly persuaded her to tell her mother that a boy from her school was the father of the unborn child.

After the baby was born, the girl’s mother raised the child as her own, the court heard.

The abuse did not stop there.

Delves continued to rape the girl after the child was born. On one occasion, he reportedly pulled up beside her while she was walking to school and forced her into his car, where he sexually assaulted her.

The victim eventually told her aunt about the abuse. Her aunt supported her when she reported the matter to police in the 1970s.

However, the initial investigation was later dropped after the girl’s mother persuaded her to withdraw the allegations, prosecutor Richard Sedgwick told the court.

Abuse continued until she was nearly 16

The court heard that Delves continued abusing the girl until shortly before she turned 16.

The abuse reportedly ended after her mother accused her of being in a relationship with Delves and assaulted her.

Years later, the woman reported the abuse to police again in 2023.

That report eventually led to a fresh investigation and Delves’ prosecution.

He initially denied the allegations but later pleaded guilty during his trial.

Victim speaks about lifelong trauma

In a statement read to the court, the woman, who is now an adult, described the lasting impact of the abuse.

She said she has required antidepressants and counselling and has experienced suicidal thoughts as a result of what happened to her.

“Being raped isn’t just something that happens to you. It is something that never goes away,” she said.

She added that the experience had been a “nightmare” and that she believed she could have achieved much more with her life had the abuse not happened.

Judge condemns betrayal of trust

Defending Delves, Yogain Chandarana said his client was “very sorry for the wrong that he did in his younger days” and had regretted his actions throughout his life.

The court also heard that Delves has two other adult children from another relationship that began after his relationship with the girl’s mother ended.

However, sentencing Delves, James Willan KC said he had occupied a position of trust in the girl’s life because he had acted as her father figure.

“You came to occupy a position of trust over your victim and played the role of her dad,” the judge said.

He added that Delves had, in reality, been grooming the girl by showing her affection “like a father would” before betraying her trust.

The judge said Delves had also persuaded the victim that his behaviour was normal and that she had to keep it secret.

In addition to the 16-year prison sentence, Delves was ordered to pay his victim £135,000 in compensation.

The case highlights the long-term impact that childhood sexual abuse can have on survivors, even decades after the abuse has ended.