Paedophile Extradited from New Zealand to Face UK Justice for Child Rape
A "cowardly" and "heinous" child rapist has finally been brought to justice after being forcibly returned to the United Kingdom from New Zealand to stand trial for a series of appalling sexual attacks against a young girl.
Refusal to Return and Extradition Process
David Bayliss, 48, formerly of Antimony Crescent in Cromwell, New Zealand, had "continually refused" to voluntarily return to the UK to face the charges against him. The defendant denied all allegations, which included multiple counts of raping a girl under the age of 13 alongside other serious sexual assaults.
Following a protracted extradition procedure, Bayliss was eventually brought back to Britain so that his trial could commence earlier this month at Hull Crown Court. The legal proceedings marked the culmination of a complex international effort between UK authorities and the New Zealand Police Force.
Investigation and Crucial Evidence
The case came to light in February 2019 when another police force alerted Humberside Police that a teenager had courageously reported a series of sexual assaults and rapes. These horrific crimes had occurred in the Hull area and began when the victim was under 10 years old, with Bayliss identified as the perpetrator.
Detectives from Humberside Police conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations. They discovered that the young girl had endured a prolonged campaign of rapes, sexual assaults, and both mental and physical abuse. During their investigation, police obtained crucial evidence from the victim's personal diary, which contained detailed accounts of the abuse.
- The diary entries documented threats of violence from Bayliss
- The victim was told that nobody would believe her if she disclosed the abuse
- This written evidence proved instrumental in building the case against the defendant
Trial Outcome and Sentencing
After a ten-day trial, the jury found Bayliss guilty on multiple serious charges:
- Five counts of rape of a girl under 13
- Sexual assault of a child under 13
- Causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
Following his conviction, Bayliss received an 18-year prison sentence with an additional year on licence. The court also imposed lifetime registration on the Sex Offenders Register and issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order against him.
Police Response and Victim Support
Detective Sergeant Stacey Suffield, who led the investigation from Humberside Police's Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, commented on the case: "Bayliss' crimes against such a young girl are nothing short of heinous, and the effect this will have on her for the rest of her life cannot be underestimated."
The detective praised the victim's extraordinary bravery in coming forward and supporting the prolonged investigation, extradition process, and trial. She noted that Bayliss had further compounded the trauma by refusing to return from New Zealand and forcing the victim and her family through a trial.
"He continuously refused to acknowledge any of the allegations put to him, and then had the audacity to force the girl and her family through a trial in what could be seen as a last cowardly attempt to maintain control and manipulation of the situation," DS Suffield stated.
The police emphasised their commitment to investigating all reports of sexual offences, regardless of when they occurred, and encouraged victims to come forward through various reporting channels including online reporting, the non-emergency 101 number, or 999 in emergencies.
