Thirty years behind bars for child rapist

HULL

A man who raped and sexually assaulted three children in the late 80s / early 90s has been jailed for a total of 30 years.

Gavin Lancell, 54-years-old, of Bramham Grove in York, pleaded not guilty to 20 non-recent sexual offences against two children, however, was convicted of all counts after a two-week trial that concluded last year in July 2025.

He was sentenced at Hull Crown Court last year to 28 years in prison and was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

However, whilst he was in prison, additional charges were brought against Lancell after a third 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, when he appeared at Hull Crown Court on Monday, 20 April 2026.

This has led his original 28-year sentence to be extended by a further two years after appearing at Hull Crown Court today (Monday, 11 May 2026).

Lancell, formerly known as Gavin Eckles, was arrested in November 2021 and charged in October 2023 with 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.

The offences were previously reported in the 90s and despite Lancell being arrested, there were no charges brought against him due to evidential difficulties at the time.

The investigation was looked at again in 2012 as to whether any additional evidence could secure charges after the victims came forward, however there wasn’t any further action taken at the time due to the evidential difficulties surrounding the investigation.

In 2020, the investigation was reviewed and progressed with further enquiries being carried out after a referral was received from a national police operation who one of the victims had spoken with.

During this investigation and on making further enquiries, another complainant who previously reported back in 1995, was visited by detectives from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, who provided additional evidence.

Lancell was subsequently re-interviewed June 2024 and charged by the Crown Prosecution Service. After this, he appeared at Hull Crown Court in November 2025 where he entered not guilty pleas on four counts of indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse on a girl under 13 years of age. He later changed his plea to guilty on two of the counts last month.

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.

“Their pursuit of justice for the crimes Lancell committed against them I cannot praise or commend them highly enough for, and my sincerest thanks are offered to them for helping us take a sexual predator off our streets.

“I would also like to express heartfelt thanks to the Blue Door Service, who supported the women throughout the investigation and court proceedings, as their compassionate and consistent presence will no doubt have made a difference.

“I would always urge people to please come forward, as this result at court shows that no matter when sexual offences are committed, whether yesterday, last year or decades ago, those who choose to inflict pain and suffering on others are held accountable for their actions, and in Lancell’s case, locked away for the rest of his life."

For more information about our Tell Someone campaign in which a sexual abuse survivor waived her legal lifelong right to anonymity to tell her story, as well as how to seek support and report recent and non-recent sexual offences to us, please visit: https://www.humberside.police.uk/police-forces/humberside-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/tell-someone/