A Doncaster man has been sentenced to over a decade in jail for sexually assaulting a child and sharing explicit content with another convicted paedophile.

Ryan Madine, 24, subjected his young victim to multiple sexual attacks, which he recorded and sent to James Mitchell, who was also involved in child sexual offences. Mitchell not only encouraged Madine’s abhorrent behaviour but also exchanged child abuse images with him.

The charges against Madine came after a thorough 18-month investigation conducted by the Doncaster Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) Team, in collaboration with the Digital Forensics Unit and Nottinghamshire Police. The investigation uncovered video messages in which Madine sexually assaulted and engaged in oral sex with a vulnerable young child. Additionally, over 700 indecent images of children were found on one of Madine’s digital devices.

Initially denying any sexual interest in children, Madine later pleaded guilty to a range of offences, including assaulting a child under 13 by penetration, sexually assaulting a child, voyeurism, and sexual communication with a child. He also admitted to making and distributing indecent photographs of a child.

At Sheffield Crown Court, both Madine and Mitchell, 31, from Retford in Nottinghamshire, were sentenced to 11-and-a-half years in prison. The judge also imposed lifelong registration on the Sex Offenders’ Register and issued restraining orders for both individuals.

Fiona Booth, the Investigating Officer, praised the dedication and professionalism of the team involved in bringing Madine to justice. She emphasised the severity of the crimes committed, stating that Madine showed no regard for the suffering he caused his victims. Booth also highlighted the ongoing need for support and specialised care for the victims in the years to come.