A POLICE detective has praised the bravery of a teenage victim of sexual offences committed by a Barnsley businessman who later fled to Italy.

Giovanni Miccoli, 66, formerly of Agnes Road, Barnsley, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for eight sex offences against a 15-year-old boy.

A spokesman for the police said the offences took place in Barnsley between January and July 2015.

Miccoli, previously a hairdresser and a restaurant owner, was arrested in August 2015, but fled to Lecce in September while on bail, and failed to answer bail in December that year.

South Yorkshire Police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and National Crime Agency worked together to bring Miccoli back to the UK for trial.

He was returned on a European arrest warrant in February 2018 when he was remanded in custody until trial.

He later pleaded guilty to eight offences, which included three counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Julie Thorpe said: “I would like to thank the victim and his family for their bravery in reporting this to the police and then their continued patience whilst agencies worked tireless to bring the perpetrator back to the UK.”

Alexandra Quigley, from the CPS said: “Giovanni Miccoli deliberately targeted his young victim, who he had known for many years as a friend of the family.

“In a gross breach of trust, Miccoli committed a series of sexual offences, including engaging in sexual activity with the victim.

“While on bail, Miccoli fled the country in a futile attempt to escape justice, and he has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years for his crimes. I hope that this is of some comfort to his victim. Our thoughts remain with him.”