'Grotesque' Bridlington man jailed for 18 years after historic rape and sexual abuse of two children

Paul Tyler, 66, of Trinity Road in Bridlington, pleaded guilty to 11 offences including rape of a child under 13, at earlier court hearings, and appeared today (January 28) at Hull Crown Court where he was sentenced.

An investigation was launched into Tyler in August 2022, after a man presented at Bridlington police station reporting that when he was a child he was subjected to multiple rapes over two years, naming Tyler as the one responsible.

Detectives carried out extensive enquiries into what were quickly established to be complex, non-recent sexual offences, including liaising with colleagues from neighbouring forces, gathering witness and victim impact statements, and collating third-party material to stack up the evidence against him to present to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), leading to Tyler being charged in August 2024.

In December 2024, he pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to five counts of rape of a boy under 13, and sexual assault of a boy under 13.

However sentencing was postponed due to a third-party report police received the month before, claiming that a woman had disclosed non-recent sexual abuse when she was a child, again naming Tyler as the offender.

Tyler was already in prison serving a 16-year sentence that began in 2012 for sexual offences against children in the West Yorkshire area.

He remained in prison following his guilty plea and while a second investigation was launched.

Tyler was later charged as part of the second investigation in September 2025, appearing back at Hull Crown Court in November where he entered multiple guilty pleas regarding sexual abuse and rape of a girl under 13.

Following this result, the three years left of his existing 16-year sentence will run concurrently, and the 18-year sentence received today will run consecutively.

Investigating officer Det Con Clare Gascoigne said: “I want to first commend the extraordinary bravery shown by the man and woman who came forward and reported Tyler’s offending against them when they were just children.

“These offences took place many years ago, and coming forward to report abuse suffered as a child requires immense courage.

“Their strength in speaking out has been vital in bringing this offender to justice, and by doing this, they have not only sought accountability for what was done to them but also helped protect other children.

“I’d also like to recognise the invaluable support provided by colleagues from one of our neighbouring forces, West Yorkshire Police, and the unwavering dedication from all officers involved in both investigations, along with the support from the CPS throughout the entirety of this protracted investigation into Tyler’s grotesque offending.

“Whilst today’s outcome does not take away the pain and suffering the man and woman have endured, I hope it provides them with some reassurance that Tyler will remain in prison for the rest of his life, unable to cause any more harm to children in our communities.

“We would encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, whether it was six days or six years ago, to come forward and tell someone when you are ready. You will be listened to, supported and taken seriously.”