A predator has been found guilty of sexual offences against two girls and two boys in Rawtenstall.
The attacks by Joseph Turner (pictured) of Linden Lea, Rawtenstall, predominantly took place after he lured children into the woods.
The first victim was 14 when Turner (then aged 20) groomed her into thinking they were in a relationship. During that period, he raped her while she was unconscious, sexually assaulted her, physically assaulted her, strangled her with a belt, threatened her with knives and was verbally abusive. He would call her his wife and even got her a ring.
The second victim was 16 when Turner lured her to his flat in Rawtenstall before going on to rape her. He also sexually assaulted her at a cemetery.
Turner also took two nine-year-old boys into the woods before sexually assaulting them.
Following a trial at Burnley Crown Court, Turner (22) was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child; two counts of sexual activity with a child; four counts of raping a female under the age of 16; one rape of a female over 16; two counts of intentional strangulation and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was remanded into custody to be sentenced at the same court on June 6.
DS Sarah Hargreaves, of the East Child Sexual Exploitation Team, said: “Turner is a dangerous individual who poses a risk to children by his perverted sexual interests and warped sense of entitlement.
“I welcome these verdicts which came as a result of the bravery of the victims first of all in coming forward and telling us what Turner did to them and then reliving those awful experiences while giving evidence during the trial.
“I want to take this opportunity to praise the investigation team – DCs Jenny Berry, Alex Biggs and Liam Morris – who worked diligently and patiently to gather all the evidence that led to the conviction after trial.”
