Man raped two girls and sexually attacked two boys

Turner groomed one victim into thinking they were in a relationship

A predatory paedophile raped two teenage girls and sexually assaulted two nine-year-old boys in a wood.

Lancashire Police said the attacks by Joseph Turner, 22, from Rawtenstall, had a "long-lasting impact" on his victims - one of whom he had given a ring to as his "wife" - and their families.

Turner was jailed for 26 years after being convicted at Burnley Crown Court for a string of sexual offences and violent assaults, and must serve at least 18 years.

He was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order which limits his access to children.

Police said Turner was 20 when he groomed a 14-year-old girl into thinking they were in a relationship.

During this time, he raped her while she was unconscious, sexually and physically assaulted her, strangled the girl with a belt, threatened her with knives, and was verbally abusive.

The second girl was 16 when he lured her to his flat in Rawtenstall to rape her.

Turner took the two young boys to the woods before sexually assaulting them.

Mother's heartbreak

Some of the victims did not feel able to make impact statements but the mother of one of the girls wrote: "At first I was worried sick, then it went into numbness. It was horrible. I can't put into words how I felt."

She felt "powerless and frustrated, feeling that I had not been able to protect her".

Her daughter was self-harming and felt suicidal when Turner had "his hold and control over her".

The mother added she was relieved at the outcome and that everyone knew "he is an abuser and a predator".

She added she was "heartbroken" by what happened to her daughter, but also said that "to finally see her happy again and looking forward to the future is amazing".

Lancashire Police Det Sgt Sarah Hargreaves said: "His offending has had a clear and long-lasting impact on his victims."

Turner was convicted at Burnley Crown Court of two counts of sexual assault on a child; two counts of sexual activity with a child; four counts of raping an under age girl, one rape of a female over 16, two counts of intentional strangulation, and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.