
A Keighley man has been jailed for ten and a half years after he raped a four-year-old boy and shared indecent images of him on the internet.
Tyler Lyness, 30, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court today (Friday, 22 April) after pleading guilty to several sexual offences.
Lyness, of Williams Road in Steeton, first came to the attention of police last year after information was received that he was sharing indecent images of children on the internet.
Police executed a warrant and seized computer equipment from his house.
As the investigation progressed it was established through work with partners that Lyness had contact with a four-year-old boy.
Specially trained officers from the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit spoke to the boy, who confirmed that Lyness had sexually abused him.
A subsequent medical examination supported this account and Lyness was charged with several offences.
Speaking after sentencing, Detective Inspector Phill Bates, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said:
"It was only when we spoke to the victim that the full extent of Lyness's crimes started to become clear.
"He was entrusted to look after this boy, but committed a gross abuse of this trust by sexually assaulting him and sharing indecent images of him on the internet.
"Police and partners in Bradford District are committed to tackling child sexual exploitation, and I would urge any victims who have not yet spoken out to engage with our specially trained officers who will investigate every report sensitively and thoroughly with the aim of bringing perpetrators to justice."