Fresh jail sentence for serial child sex abuser

A former teacher who is already serving a 23-year prison sentence for child sex offences has been sentenced again for further historical child sex abuse.

Keith Lockwood was jailed in May 2024 after being convicted of 23 offences against boys under the age of 16 in the 1970s, 80s and 90s in the Kirklees area.

At Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday, Lockwood, 72, was sentenced to a further 15 months in prison after being found guilty at a trial in July of four indecent assaults against two boys in Kirklees between the late 1970s and early 1990s.

One of his victims, who travelled from North America to give evidence, had told the latest trial Lockwood was "solely responsible for taking my childhood away".

At the end of the trial in July, Lockwood, formerly of Park Lane, Keighley, was found guilty of one count of indecent assault committed between May 1979 and May 1981 against a victim aged 14 to 15.

He was also found guilty of three counts of indecent assault committed between March 1988 and March 1991 against a second victim who was aged 12 when Lockwood first abused him.

Speaking after sentencing, Det Con Gilly Hodds, of Kirklees District Police, commended the victims who had come forward.

"I would like to praise the courage and resilience of both victims, who are now in their 50s and 60s," she said.

"They have lived with the trauma of this abuse for decades and were then forced to relive their experiences during a trial because of Lockwood's refusal to accept responsibility.

"West Yorkshire Police remain committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities and bringing offenders to justice."

Lockwood's name was already on the Sex Offenders Register and would remain so for life, a force spokesperson said.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.