South Lincolnshire man jailed for 12 years for rape

A man has been jailed for 12 years after being convicted of multiple rapes dating back more than a decade.

George Brian Chipperfield, 41, from south Lincolnshire, received a 15-year sentence at Grimsby Crown Court earlier this month.

The term includes 12 years in custody and a three-year extended licence period. He was also placed on the sex offender register for life.

The court was told that Chipperfield committed the offences in 2014 and in the years that followed.

While acknowledging the seriousness of the crimes, the judge reduced the custodial sentence in part because Chipperfield is already serving four years in prison for blackmail.

A further reduction was made due to his mental health difficulties.

Detective Constable Kirsty Farrar of Lincolnshire Police described him as a dangerous individual whose actions caused “great harm and distress”.

She praised the courage of the victim and the efforts of those involved in the case.

“Chipperfield is a dangerous individual and his actions caused great harm and distress – they were reprehensible,” said DC Farrar.

“I hope that this result can help give his victim a sense of closure, though the road is likely to be long.

“Their courage is why we’re here today; they deserve a tremendous amount of respect.”

DC Farrar also acknowledged the work of independent domestic violence advisor Sacha Darcey, rape and serious sexual offences lawyer Sheetal Patel, and King’s Counsel Andrew Vout.

Police urged victims of sexual offences to come forward, even if they are unsure or not yet ready to speak directly to officers, and highlighted that support is available through a range of organisations.

Advice on how to report rape and sexual assault, as well as links to support services for victims, is available online.

“Even if you’re not 100 per cent sure, we want to hear from you so that we can make sure you’re safe,” said DC Farrar.