Birmingham Father and Daughter Sentenced for Incest After Reunion
A Birmingham father and daughter have been sentenced after pleading guilty to incest, in a case that began when the man's seven-year-old stepson discovered them in bed together. Andrew Butler, now 47, and his daughter Nicola Yates faced justice at Birmingham Crown Court for their illicit relationship.
Shocking Discovery and Initial Offence
The disturbing case came to light in 2007 when Butler's young stepson walked in on the pair in bed. The boy immediately informed his mother, who reported the incident to the police. This initial discovery set off a chain of events that would lead to multiple court appearances for both individuals.
Butler had previously separated from his ex-wife Katrina in 1990 due to allegations of violence toward her and their two children, one of whom was Nicola Yates. Yates was just seven years old when her father left their Birmingham home, and she had no contact with him until her twenties when she tracked him down online.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
In July 2012, Butler and Yates admitted to having sex with a relative between 2008 and 2010. Butler received a 10-month prison sentence, while Yates, then 26, was given a 26-week suspended term. This was not Butler's first offense - he had previously received a four-month suspended sentence for incest in 2007.
During sentencing, Judge James Burbidge remarked: "There appears to have been a relationship that involved genuine affection, but it was also an illicit relationship, a relationship that is regarded as abhorrent to society at large."
Deception and Evidence
Prosecutor Madhu Rai revealed that Yates had kept her relationship with Butler hidden from her family, even after their initial convictions. In 2008, she told family members she had a new boyfriend named Andrew Bicknell - a pseudonym that served as a cover for her relationship with her biological father.
Police investigation uncovered substantial evidence including:
- Romantic letters and cards exchanged between the couple
- Explicit images and text messages on their mobile phones and laptops
- Photographic evidence discovered by Yates' stepsister Natalie in March 2010
When Natalie found explicit photos of the pair on Yates' phone during a visit to their flat, she took pictures of the images and showed them to her parents. They immediately recognized that "Andrew Bicknell" was actually Butler - Yates' biological father and her mother's former husband.
Arrest and Character Assessments
The couple was arrested at their flat in Bordesley Green in September 2010. In court, the judge described Butler as a "manipulative individual" while characterizing Yates as "very vulnerable" with a history of inappropriate relationships.
Defense arguments presented mitigating circumstances. Butler's solicitor Rob Cowley stated: "This was not a relationship that involved any element of coercion, manipulation or abuse of power or authority." Yates' defense attorney Liz D'Oliviera explained that her client felt guilty about not being allowed to see her father during her childhood and craved a relationship with him.
The case highlights complex family dynamics and the legal consequences of incestuous relationships, with both parties now facing the repercussions of their actions through the British justice system.
