Latest Offenders Blackburn

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A MAN convicted of repeatedly raping a teenage girl has been jailed for 13 years.

Lorne Turner was told by a judge he had asserted that the victim was lying, but that a jury had rightly rejected his defence.

The 38-year-old of Aberdale Close, Blackburn, had been found guilty after a trial of three charges of rape.

He had admitted a single charge of sexual activity with a child.

Preston Crown Court heard that his behaviour had included him offering the girl money for sex. She had refused, but he had gone on to rape her. She had also tried to resist him, but could not stop him.

Turner had denied the rape allegations, asserting that the girl had been lying.

Mr Thomas Gilbart, defending, said

“He understands that the offences he has been convicted of can only be met with a substantial custodial sentence.

“He has never served custody in the past. He has anxiety and fear about the lengthy sentence that will be passed.”

Judge Angela Beech told Turner: “Your conduct towards the girl has had, to put it mildly, a profound effect on her.”

The judge said the girl had urged all those who have been sexually abused to speak out about it.

Turner will be on the sex offenders register for life and banned from having any unsupervised contact with any girl under sixteen.

DC Lyndsey Vaughton, who led the investigation said:

“This has been a very traumatic time for the victim. But, I am satisfied that the sentence fits the crime committed. Whilst, the trauma the victim suffered will never go away she will have some comfort in knowing her attacker is behind bars.”