Man raped 15-year-old girl in Center Parcs lodge

The girl was raped while on holiday at Center Parcs in Nottinghamshire

A man who raped a 15-year-old girl after being invited into her lodge at Center Parcs has been given a 12-year extended sentence.

Caden Crossley was taken in by the girl's family after his partner threw him out of their lodge at the Nottinghamshire retreat.

The girl woke up to find Crossley in her bed touching her sexually, and he then started raping her.

She managed to get away and tell her mother, and police were called.

Another child of a similar age was in the bedroom when Crossley raped the girl and the judge said this made the offence worse.

Crossley, who was 27 at the time of the offending in 2022, denied what he had done when interviewed by police.

However, he later pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court to rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault.

Caden Crossley, now 29, admitted three offences at Nottingham Crown Court

Speaking about the victim, Judge Michael Auty KC told Crossley: "The effects of what you did to her that day, I have no doubt, will live with her for the rest of her life."

The judge said he had "grave concerns" about Crossley, who was already in prison serving a five-year sentence for firearms offences committed after the rape.

He therefore gave Crossley an extended sentence to protect the public from harm, with the custody element being eight years, followed by an extended licence period of four years.

The court heard the offences happened in June 2022, while the victim was on holiday with her family.

Crossley, who was staying in a nearby lodge, had an argument with his partner in the early hours of the morning.

'Kindness of her heart'

"It must have been an argument of some consequence because it resulted in you being turfed out of the lodge that you were staying in," said the judge.

"You found yourself effectively homeless. [The victim's mother] took you in out of the kindness of her heart, and her fundamental decency."

Judge Auty said he had read a statement written by the victim's mother and said it was "heartbreaking".

"She will doubtless never forgive herself," said the judge.

"She has nothing to blame herself for. Kindness is a virtue and in remarkably short supply.

"Her motivation was kindness and it never crossed her mind for so much as a moment that her beloved child was at any risk."

In addition to the extended sentence, Crossley will be on the sex offenders register for life.