Kevin Macrae

A 59-year-old Burnley man has been jailed for nearly five years after threatening to kill a child if she did not allow him to sexually assault her.

Kevin Macrae, of Bivel Street, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to four years and nine months in prison. He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault of a girl under the age of 13 and two counts of sexual activity with a child, all involving the same victim.

The court heard the abuse first began at Macrae's property in 2021. The final string of offenses took place on December 29, 2023, after Macrae attended a funeral in Padiham. He found the victim lying on a bed, climbed in behind her, and subjected her to a 10-minute sexual assault. When the victim asked him to stop, Macrae told her to "relax."

Following the house assault, Macrae drove the victim away, falsely blaming her for drinking too much. The prosecution noted this was a calculated ploy to isolate her, facilitate further abuse, or pressure her into silence.

Macrae then drove to a remote car park, where he broke down, crying and banging his head against the steering wheel. He explicitly threatened to kill both the victim and himself if she did not comply with his sexual demands.

During sentencing, the judge emphasized the "utterly terrifying" nature of the ordeal and praised the victim for her remarkable courage in contacting the police. Safeguarding measures were immediately put in place for the child following her disclosure.