York child rapist has prison sentence extended to 30 years
Gavin Lancell, from York, has been sentenced again at Hull Crown Court
A man who raped and sexually assaulted three children between the late 1980s and early 1990s has had his prison sentence extended to 30 years.
Gavin Lancell, 54, of Bramham Grove in York, was originally jailed for 28 years after being convicted of 20 historic sexual offences at a Hull Crown Court trial in July 2025.
He was found guilty of five counts of rape, six counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, six counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, and three counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14.
Lancell, formerly known as Gavin Eckles, was given a 28 year prison sentence and put on the sex offenders register for life for these crimes.
Whilst he was in prison, another woman came forward, leading him to plead guilty to a further two offences including indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, and sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.
This has led to his prison sentence being extended by two years.
The investigation
The initial reports were first made to the police in the 1990s, but due to evidential difficulties, no charges were brought against Lancell.
The case was looked at again in 2012, but again no further action was taken.
In 2020, the investigation was reopened after a referral from a national police operation and new information was provided by victims and witnesses.
Lancell was re-interviewed in June 2024 and charged.
"Stealing their childhood and innocence"
Detective Constable Clare Gascoigne, leading the investigation said: “I would first like to acknowledge the immense courage and perseverance shown by the three women in this case, as it is only with their strength and determination Lancell is now behind bars where he rightly belongs.
“Lancell subjected them to horrific sexual offences, stealing their childhood and innocence, and even forced two of them to relive the pain and trauma he put them through by refusing to admit his guilt and making them endure the gruelling ordeal of a trial last year."