Jason Spence was found guilty of multiple child sex offences, including raping four young girls under 13, before fleeing to Ireland for 33 days ahead of his sentencing
Kirstie McCrum and Samuel Port
07:38, 09 Jul 2026
Jason Spence(Image: WYP)
A paedophile who absconded following his conviction for raping four young girls has finally been brought to justice.
Jason Spence, 38, of Roker Lane, Pudsey in Leeds was convicted after a trial at Leeds Crown Court of numerous sexual offences, including four counts of rape and five counts of assault by touching. All of his victims were aged under 13 at the time the offences were committed.
He was further convicted of offences relating to the production of indecent images of children and possession of prohibited images of children. Released on conditional bail on April 2 ahead of sentencing, a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court on April 16, reports Leeds Live.
Spence remained at large for 33 days before being apprehended in Ireland and extradited back to the UK. Sentenced on Wednesday, July 8, he received a 32-year extended sentence, comprising a 24-year custodial term and eight years on licence.
Detective Constable Gemma Varley said: “What these children have endured at such a young age is unimaginable. This was a complex investigation that required extremely sensitive handling, balancing the need to gain evidence to ensure Spence was convicted with being careful and considerate of the trauma that these young victims had already been exposed to.”
“The officer who led on this investigation, Nicki Vincent, has since retired but returned to give evidence during the trial, helping to ensure Spence has been held accountable for his actions.”
Detective Constable Susan Abbott, who participated in the safeguarding inquiry and subsequently headed the manhunt, stated: “Spence has tried to evade justice by leaving the country before he could be sentenced, causing further distress to his victims and their family members.
“We were determined to find him and worked closely with An Garda Síochána to ensure he was arrested and brought back to the UK to be sentenced. Spence is clearly a dangerous man who has preyed on multiple children.
“I hope that knowing he is now in prison helps those who have been involved in this awful case as they continue to try and rebuild their lives.”
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