A man has been jailed for eight years and nine months following two separate incidents of sexual assault.

Kristian John Franks, 35, from York, was found guilty today (Thursday 30 October) at York Crown Court.

As well as his prison sentence, Franks was also given an extended licence for 14 years, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years. 

The first time Franks was reported to police was in 2017, when he met his first victim in a bar. 

On the 14th May 2017, Franks and the defendant shared a taxi home from the bar, before the victim declined Franks’ invitation to go to his house. After being dropped off by the taxi, she discovered Franks had been following her in his van.

He drove her to a secluded location and raped her, after she refused to have sex with him. She then reported the incident to her step-brother, who notified police. 

Franks was arrested by police, but denied the offence and claimed all acts were consensual. The victim later withdrew her consent to move on with the investigation, and the case was dropped. 

The second incident occurred on 6 September 2023, when Leah Bedford, 16, was targeted by Franks on Scarcroft Road, York.

Witnesses describe Leah being completely unaware of where she was, and Franks told another witness that he knew her, and would take her home. Franks then took Leah to an area of York where he sexually assaulted and raped her.

Leah managed to flee, and flag down a motorist before being taken to hospital for injuries sustained in the attack. Leah was unable to identify her attacker, but police tracked Franks down through the identification of his vehicle.

Again, Franks denied any wrongdoing, and claimed the acts were consensual. He was charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault with penetration. 

Following this second arrest, police reopened the case from 2017, after contacting the victim for her consent. The victim then disclosed that she only withdrew her complaint due to being threatened, and was too scared to tell police at the time.

Tragically, Leah was reported missing on 20 September 2023, and her body was found in the River Ouse, York, eight days later. Due to her death, and the issues being one of consent, Leah’s case was withdrawn from court, and Franks was acquitted and released from custody. He has not been convicted of the offence. 

Prosecuting Barrister Christopher Rose was able to successfully apply to the Recorder of York, HHJ Morris to introduce Leah’s case as Bad Character evidence for the 2017 case, as there was a clear unlikelihood of coincidence that two unconnected women would make similar allegations against the same man.

This helped to strengthen the case against Franks, and resulted in him being found guilty.

Police Staff Investigator Amy Gilgrist from North Yorkshire Police said: “The victim of the 2017 case showed immense courage to come to court eight years later, and she gave compelling and impactful evidence against her abuser.

“Franks has tried throughout the whole of this investigation, to undermine the accounts of his victims. He believes himself to be above the law and has shown no remorse for the acts he carried out.

“The jury has established, following all the evidence put to them, that he is guilty and will face the consequences of his actions. I hope this verdict can bring some comfort to the victim and Leah’s family, knowing that both women have been heard, listened to and believed.”

Due to Leah’s tragic death, the Judge lifted restrictions on reporting of her details. Victims and survivors of sexual offences receive lifelong anonymity, but because of her death, this was lifted.