Latest Offenders Brighton

Description

A sex offender from Sussex who subjected his Kent victim to a campaign of fear and misery while controlling her life has been jailed, following a Kent Police investigation.

Andrew Wilson, formerly of Brompton Close in Brighton, met his victim – who was living in Ashford at the time – in 2023.

Controlling behaviour

As time went on, Wilson’s behaviour turned aggressive and unpredictable, causing the woman to become frightened and isolated.

Wilson, 29, became increasingly controlling and violent - insisting his victim delete social media contacts, dress in different clothes and give in to his sexual demands.

He dictated where she could go and whom she could speak with, subjecting her to sexual assault and suffocation.

The woman told Wilson she wanted no further contact with him, but he persisted in harassing her and making repeated threats.

Arrested

A report was made to Kent Police and Wilson was arrested in Brighton on 19 January 2024, with the support of officers from Sussex Police, before being charged the following day.

Jailed

Following a trial at Lewes Crown Court, Wilson was found guilty of sexual assault, suffocation and coercive and controlling behaviour and, on 12 November, was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Wilson will spend a further two years on licence after that term, and was also given an indefinite restraining order, forbidding him from any further contact with the victim.

Description

A former teaching assistant who sexually assaulted a young girl during an improvised game of Twister has been jailed.

Stephen Payne sexually assaulted four different girls aged between eight and 12 in his home in Brighton across a period of nearly two decades.

All of the offences occurred while Payne worked as a teaching assistant at Dharma Primary School in Patcham. One of his victims was linked to his time at the school.

Payne, 69, was found guilty of 13 sexual offences after a court heard he assaulted three of his victims while measuring their height against a wooden beam in his home.

A fourth victim was assaulted after Payne initiated an improvised game of Twister.

All of the offences took place between 2001 and 2018, however Sussex Police believe he may have more victims.

PC Donna Bagguley, of Brighton and Hoves safeguarding investigation unit, said: Stephen Payne abused the trust of his young victims in the most appalling way.

Each of them has shown extraordinary courage to report his crimes and give evidence against him. We believed them, a jury believed them and now Payne will spend a significant amount of time behind bars.

We believe Payne may have more victims. If you or anyone you know is a victim of a sexual offence no matter how long ago please report it to the police. We will believe you, we will support you and we will do everything we can to get you justice.

Payne worked at Dharma Primary School in Patcham throughout his offending. He was first employed in 1994 up to the day he was arrested in March, 2020.

Dharma Primary School closed in 2020.

Payne was charged with nine counts of indecent assault of a girl under 16 as well as three counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 and one count of assault by touching a girl under 13.

He was found guilty by a jury at Lewes Crown Court on January 26.

Today, Payne was sentenced to six and a half years in jail and given a sexual harm prevention order, a restraining order and added to the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A fast food restaurant worker who raped a woman in Brighton has been jailed.

Bogdan Cioropa, 28, of Staplefield Drive in Brighton, raped his victim – a woman who was 17 years old at the time – at a property in Brighton on Friday, 9 April, 2021.

She reported the offence to police and Cioropa was arrested the following day on suspicion of rape.

The woman was given support by specialist officers while an investigation was carried out.

Cioropa was subsequently charged with rape, attempted oral rape and sexual assault, but left the country before his trial was due to start.

Proceedings continued in his absence and a jury unanimously found him guilty of all three counts at Hove Crown Court on Thursday, 14 September.

At Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday (22 November), Cioropa was sentenced in his absence to nine years in prison.

He was also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order of 15 years and will be a registered sex offender for life.

After extensive attempts to locate Cioropa in Europe, a warrant is with the Crown Prosecution Service for his arrest and extradition.

Stringent measures are in place to ensure he will be apprehended should he attempt to re-enter the UK.

In a victim impact statement shared with the court, Cioropa’s victim said: “Thanks to you my whole life changed. I went from being innocent to the horrors that go on in this world to no longer being able to trust anyone. I struggle to believe people and I am constantly worrying about their true intentions.

“I had been told about monsters like you my whole life and how I should be cautious, but at the time I was still a child, I had never expected you to be one of those people I should have been watching out for.

“I am thankful for the support I’ve had from my family and friends, the police and especially Laura from Survivors’ Network who has listened to me talk for hours about all my thoughts.”

Detective Constable Laura Pettitt said: “I would like to thank this courageous young woman for the determination she has shown in not only reporting Cioropa’s crimes initially, but for her supporting a court process delayed by his refusal to attend trial and face justice in person.

“The jury were unanimous in finding him guilty of all three charges and he will be placed behind bars where he can pose no further danger to women.

“I hope this result provides his victim and her family with some degree of comfort as they look to move on with their lives.

Description

An offender used a false identity to enter the UK after previously being jailed and deported for similar offences.

Ion Rudacan, also known as Ion Paun, was convicted as part of Operation Elba, an operation by Greater Manchester Police to the trafficking of women for sex work in the north west.

Despite being jailed and deported, the 36-year-old made repeated efforts to re-enter the UK.

He managed to enter the UK illegally under a false name, and documents showed he had hired a car in Brighton in July.

But he was arrested by officers from Sussex Police’s Tactical Firearms Unit who carried out a proactive check on his vehicle while on patrol in Marine Parade, Brighton, on September 4.

Rudacan was charged with multiple offences, and was remanded in custody.

At Lewes Crown Court on October 10, he admitted three counts of breaching a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, breaching a Deportation Order, three further attempted breaches of the Deportation Order, and seeking and obtaining leave to enter or remain in the UK via deceptive means.

Rudacan, of no fixed address, was sentenced to six years in prison.

The court was told how Rudacan, a Romanian national, was convicted as part of Operation Elba for controlling prostitution for gain and for human trafficking offences in the Manchester area.

He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison in November 2021, along with a Deportation Order.

Rudacan was deported on January 27, 2022.

He was also made the subject of a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order for ten years, which restricts his ability to own, lease or possess a vehicle in the UK without informing the police, and restricts his access to using devices such as a mobile phone.

It was revealed how he had attempted to enter the UK under a false EU Settlement application.

He was removed from the UK at Stansted Airport on October 5, 2022 and June 26 this year, and was removed from Liverpool John Lennon Airport on October 14, 2022.

Officers stopped him in a vehicle in Marine Parade, Brighton, in the early hours of September 4.

Inspector Oliver Fisher from the Tactical Firearms Unit said: “Our officers were out on patrol and conducted a check on the vehicle, which Rudacan had hired under a false identity.

“Thanks to the proactive stop, these offences by Rudacan were brought to light.

“It demonstrates that our highly-trained firearms officers s conduct a variety of duties above and beyond armed response, and regularly carry out patrols to assist with our colleagues across the force.

“We are determined to disrupt criminals who prey on vulnerable people with trafficking and modern slavery, to ensure the victims are properly safeguarded.”

Detective Inspector Tony Platten from Greater Manchester Police’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Lead said: “He has showed a blatant disregard once again to the orders imposed on him after serving a custodial sentence and when information was received that he had returned to UK soil, another co-ordinated approach across a number of force areas and actions were taken.

“The most recent result was where we have provided colleagues over in Sussex with the support they needed through gathering evidence as well as helping to locate, arrest and prosecute him further. These orders around trafficking and deportation are designed to reduce the risk of further harm being caused.

“Hopefully this continued approach reinforces the message to victims we will investigate all available lines of enquiry, whilst those who commit serious Modern Slavery offences will be pursued and dealt with robustly in order to protect some of the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Tony Hilton, Assistant Director for the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigation unit, said: “This is a highly deceptive individual who has repeatedly tried to breach our borders and exploit vulnerable people.

Description

A man who gave a young girl wine, asked her to take her clothes off and took pictures of her has been jailed.

Neil Schooley, 55, asked another girl, who was under ten, to undress and pose for photographs. On a different occasion he exposed himself to her. The incidents happened two days apart.

After an investigation was launched, it transpired that Schooley had also taken photos of another girl who he gave wine to.

The pictures were all taken between 2016 and 2018 when one of the girls was under ten and the other was between ten and 13 years old.

Sussex Police Detective Constable Joe Murray said: “Neil Schooley betrayed the trust of his young victims and their families for his own sexual gratification.

“The seriousness of these offences and the harm they have caused was recognised by this sentence, which was the maximum available for these crimes.

“I would like to thank both of these two brave girls for reporting the incidents, supporting our investigation and helping to bring Schooley to justice.”

Following the police investigation, Schooley was arrested and charged with three counts of taking indecent images of a child and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Schooley, of Woburn Place in Brighton, was found guilty by a jury at Hove Crown Court after denying the offences.

At a sentencing hearing on August 31 he was handed the maximum sentence of eight years in prison and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ register.

Description

A Brighton man who sexually assaulted six women in public spaces in Brighton has been given a thirteen year sentence.

Hanok Zeray, 32, of Ringmer Road in Brighton, targeted lone women around Brighton city centre on multiple occasions in 2022.

An investigation was launched after a woman reported being raped in the Old Steine in Brighton on 16 April. She was supported by specialist officers and Hanok Zeray was arrested the following day on suspicion of rape.

He was released under investigation while evidence was collected to pursue a charge.

On Sunday, 22 May, two women reported being sexually assaulted in London Road and Southover Street in the early hours of the morning.

The Southover Street victim was chased by a stranger – later identified as Zeray – but managed to escape by locking herself in her flat.

Enquiries were underway to identify a suspect when, on 23 October, a third woman reported being sexually assaulted by a stranger in Elm Grove.

He harassed her persistently, but she was able to film him on her mobile phone and capture the sexual assault on film.

Officers identified Zeray from the footage and he was arrested shortly after.

He was charged with rape and three counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.

While remanded, Zeray was charged with three additional counts of sexual assault after three more women came forward to report being attacked.

One on the 22 May in London Road, one in Gladstone Place on 19 June and a third on 23 October – five minutes before Zeray was filmed assaulting the woman in Elm Grove.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 24 February, Zeray pleaded guilty to all six counts of sexual assault and not guilty to rape. The rape charge was later discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.

At Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 21 July, Zeray was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years.

Detective Constable Amy Pemberton-Hill said: “Hanok Zeray was a committed offender who presented a clear danger to lone women and girls.

“I would like to thank all these women for reporting his crimes to police and supporting the investigation through to prosecution.

“The streets of Brighton and Hove are a safer place as a result.”

Superintendent Adele Tucknott, Sussex Police’s lead for violence against women and girls, said: “The behaviour shown by Hanok Zeray will not be tolerated in Sussex – from the persistent harassment of women through to the sexual assaults for which he has been jailed.

“Women and girls should be safe to walk the streets alone at any time of day or night without being targeted by predatory men.

“We have a range of measures to keep people safe at night and it is so important that any incidents are reported so we can take positive action.

Description

A sex attacker has been handed a 12-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of the rape of a woman on Brighton Beach in the dead of night.

Przemyslaw Pogorzzelec, 44, forced himself upon the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, in the early hours on the morning on the beach in Brighton, East Sussex.

Sussex Police said the sex attack, which happened at 2am on July 31 last year, was seen by witnesses.

Pogorzzelec and the woman were approached by members of the Beach Patrol and security, and the victim told them she had not consented. was then detained and arrested by officers.

The rapist claimed he had chatted with the young woman and claimed he had consensual sex with her.

But when questioned by officers he could not remember her name, age, or anything about her.

Witnesses said she was not able to give consent.

She was given support by specially-trained officers throughout the investigation.

At Lewes Crown Court on May 2, Pogorzzelec, a builder of no fixed address but formerly of an address in Hove, was found guilty of rape, and of sexual assault by penetration.

He was jailed for a total of 12 years, and an extended licence period of three years was also imposed.

The court was told how the incident happened at 2am on July 31 last year.

Pogorzzelec had forced himself on the woman, and had taken intimate photographs of her on his mobile phone.

He was interrupted by the Beach Patrol and security from nearby venues.

Despite denying the offence, he was convicted by the jury after a trial in January.

At his sentencing hearing, it was revealed how Pogorzzelec was convicted in 2013 for exposure, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Ciara Richardson said: 'The victim received support from our officers, and showed great courage to give evidence in the trial.

'This was a fast moving investigation where we gathered witness statements and footage which showed how Pogorzzelec had preyed on the young woman when she was alone on the beach.

'We are pleased that a dangerous offender is now in prison for these offences.'

Description

A man found guilty of the rape of two women has been jailed for 18 years.

Andrew Mellis, 58, of Tarner Road, Brighton, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Monday (March 6) for sentencing having been convicted by a unanimous verdict in July last year of four counts of rape.

The first three offences had been disclosed following an investigation into an assault. During the investigation another woman came forward to report a further offence.

The two women had victim impact statements read out to the court detailing the impact and long-term effects that Mellis's crimes had had upon them over many years.

HHJ Christine Laing said that the crimes he had inflicted on his victims were 'brutal' and that he should feel shame at the way he had abused them. She deemed him 'a dangerous man' and in sentencing him to 14 years and ordered a further four years on licence in the light of the threat that he posed. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Stewart Cameron, from Sussex Police's Brighton safeguarding unit, said: "Both of these women have shown huge amounts of coverage in coming forward and providing accounts of the harrowing abuse they suffered at the hands of Andrew Mellis.

"He has shown no remorse for what he did to them, subjecting them to the ordeal of having to stand in court to go through what happened to them all over again.

"This required enormous strength and bravery and it is thanks to them that justice has finally caught up with this evil man. I appreciate that this is something that will stay with them forever, but I hope that the verdict and the sentence will go some way to helping them rebuild their lives.

"The case also demonstrates that it's never too late to report offences of this nature. We will take reports very seriously, no matter how long ago they occurred, and your report will be handled sensitively and compassionately."

Description

He was sentenced to eight years in prison for each offence - which will run concurrently - and will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register

A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a serious sexual attack which took place almost 40 years ago in Stevenage. Paul King, aged 63, from Brighton, appeared at St Albans Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, February 8) for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to indecent assault and attempting another serious sexual assault following an incident in 1983.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison for each offence, which will run concurrently. He will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register.

The court heard how one late February night in 1983, a teenage boy was walking on a snow-covered path through Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage when he was approached by a man and sexually assaulted.

The victim reported the incident to police but no offender was located at the time, however a DNA profile of the man was recorded. A forensic review of the cold case led to a positive DNA profile match for King. He subsequently was arrested, charged and later pleaded guilty to the offences.

Detective Inspector Iain MacPherson, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “I’m pleased that King has finally been jailed for this awful attack.

“Officers conducting a review of this cold case, assisted by the advancement of DNA technologies, were able to find justice for the victim almost 40 years later. I hope historical offenders hearing about this case sleep a little less easy at night knowing we could be knocking on their door.”

Description

A MAN who raped a student on her way home was caught after she made a video call and her friend recorded it.

Just before 12pm on Wednesday, September 22 the woman in her 20s was dropped off by a taxi in The Avenue, Brighton.

She was attacked but managed to make a video call to a friend who reported it to the police.

Officers managed to use the footage to track down where the attack happened and identify the rapist.

And now Ramees Akkara, 28, of Upper Bevendean Avenue in Brighton, has been found guilty by a jury at Hove Crown Court.

Police visited the victims address at 2.40am after she had returned home alone and an investigation was launched after officers suspected she may have been the victim of a sexual assault.

The woman was supported by specialist officers while evidence was gathered, but her whereabouts during the time of the attack, and a crime scene, were unknown.

Over the following days, detectives carried out enquiries around the Upper Bevendean Avenue area, supported by a range of specialist officers.

On Friday, October 1 detectives entered an unlocked property in Upper Bevendean Avenue and recognised it from the recorded video call.

Five men who returned to the property were arrested on suspicion of rape and all five were interviewed over the next 24 hours.

After DNA test results were fast-tracked, a forensic sample taken from the victim matched the DNA of one of the suspects, Ramees Akkara, who was re-arrested while enquiries continued.

On Monday, October 4 he was charged with rape and remanded in custody until his trial began on Tuesday, March 22.

This week a jury unanimously found Akkara guilty of rape and he was sentenced to eight years in prison. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Gillings said: This was a hugely distressing case for the young woman involved, who fell victim to a predatory offender in Akkara.

I would like to personally thank her for the incredible bravery she showed in supporting the investigation, which included giving evidence in court under extremely stressful circumstances. Without her courage and support, this conviction would not have been possible.

My thanks also go out to her quick-thinking friend who recorded the call, and to all of the people who helped to secure this conviction.

It was an incredible display of teamwork and I feel hugely proud to have worked with the individuals on this case.

Many worked extended hours, putting their home lives second to identifying and charging a dangerous male who is now, due to their actions, no longer on the streets.

Description

A MAN has been jailed for a series of sexual offences, including two rapes, against a young boy over a ten-year period.

Over a period of time, Simon Berry groomed a child in his local community, who was aged under ten.

Having gained the boys trust, Berry, who was in his early 20s at the time, systematically assaulted him for nearly ten years.

Detective Constable Stewart Cameron, of the Brighton and Hove safeguarding investigation unit, said Berry denied all wrongdoing, which meant that the victim, now himself in his twenties, had to give evidence at court.

Now aged 33, Berry has been sentenced to 13-years in prison having been convicted of 16 counts of sexual assaults on the boy, including two rapes.

In addition, Berry, of Whitehawk Road, Brighton, will also serve a further two years on extended prison licence.

At Southwark Crown Court, he was told that he will be a registered sex offender for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, also to last for life, severely restricting his access to children and to digital communications devices.

Detective Constable Cameron said the victims evidence was pivotal in securing Berry's convictions.

"He has now faced justice at last, another example of the way in which we can successfully investigate such predatory offenders and safeguard local communities, he said.

Description

A Brighton man has been given a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexual assault on a girl then aged under 13, more than six years ago.

Jason Lineker, 34, of Mouslecoomb Way, Brighton, had been found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict at Lewes Crown Court on 27 August after a five-day trial which included evidence from witnesses and the girl herself.

On Friday 3 September he was sentenced to four and a half years plus one year on additional prison licence.

He will be a registered sex offender for life, and was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court order, severely restricting his access to children.

This was a re-trial after a previous jury had failed to agree on a verdict in November last year.

Detective Constable Angela Harvey of the Brighton Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "The victim, a young child, was very brave, having to give evidence in two trials as a result of the hung jury outcome in November 2020”

Description

A paedophile is starting a three year prison sentence for sexual and cruelty offences against a child.

John Denian, 65, handyman, of Dewe Road, Brighton, was sentenced when he appeared at Brighton Crown Court on Friday.

Denian was found guilty of incitement to gross indecency and indecent assault on a girl aged between 5 and 10 between 1980 and 1985, and cruelty to the same girl between 1980 and 1991.

He was sentenced to one year for the indecency offences, and two years for the child cruelty offence, with both sentences running consecutively.

He will also be register as a sex offender for ten years.

Detective Constable Sarah Townsend said: "Denian took advantage of the vulnerability of this young girl, who he knew, for many years, starting when she was barely five years old. It was a quite appalling breach of trust and only a year ago did she feel able to come forward and tell us what had happened to her over so many years.

"We admire her bravery in coming forward and being prepared to give evidence. It shows that we will always take such reports seriously and will investigate wherever possible."

Following Denian's conviction his victim, who has anonymity under Sexual Offences Act, said: "My childhood was filled with fear, uncertainty, misery and the feeling I had nowhere to turn as a result of the violence and abuse I experienced. I felt conscious of small things every day, even what I wore and how I presented myself.

"I spent years feeling petrified of John Denian and it has been extremely difficult for me to come forward and speak about this but it was the right decision to do so.

"I also chose to give my evidence in court without the use of screens or video link because I wanted to face him as an adult, and show him I have control of my own life and I wasn't afraid of him any more.

"I am delighted that he has been convicted and I can now move forward with the continued support of my friends and partner."

Description

A MAN who spent more than three years on bail before being charged has pleaded guilty to child pornography offences.

Jonathan Barclay, of Chadborn Close, Brighton, has been given a 24-month community order and will be a registered sex offender for five years.

His estranged husband has spoken of his upset at learning through this newspaper that his partner had been charged with such serious offences.

Barclay, 51, co-founder of a Brighton events management company, pleaded guilty to five counts of downloading indecent images of children and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.

He had been arrested in October 2011 but not charged until January this year due to what police described as a very exceptional series of complex legal and technical issues.

His case was used by the chief constable Giles York as an example of why a cap should not be put on the length of time people could be on police bail, arguing some cases were too complex.

Mr Barclay had pleaded not guilty to causing or inciting a child between 13 and 17 years old to be involved in pornography and refusing an order to disclose a computer password. The court did not proceed with those charges but they will remain on file.

His estranged husband, William Underwood, pictured right, who has changed his name to Christopher Clayton, said he was shocked to learn of the offences through The Argus when the paper first covered the story in January.

The 21-year-old, who now lives in London, said Barclay had told him he was on bail after they moved in together but not what for, and he had not pressed the issue.

The pair married in April, 2013 after meeting via a dating website that Christmas. They separated shortly after, before Barclay was charged.

Mr Clayton said: I did not know how serious it was until I saw it in the paper.

I was completely in love with him at the start. Since I got off the train there was a spark with him and I fell in love. He was a lovely guy when it was nice. When it was nice, it was lovely.

But when I first found out about the case I felt violated.

Now I think my whole wedding and everything with him was based on a lie from the beginning.

Under the name Jon Philips, Barclay was featured on the website of Brighton events management company Showbizz, in Cheapside, earlier this year, as a co-founder. He no longer has anything to do with the company, a spokesman said.

BACKGROUND

The Home Secretary Theresa May is planning to limit the amount of time suspects can spend on police bail to an initial 28 days.

Any time beyond that, up to three months, would need to be authorised by a superintendent. A magistrate would have to approve anything beyond three months.

Under the changes set to go through Parliament, there would also be a presumption to release without bail during investigations.

Sussex Police chief constable Giles York has argued against statutory time limits, saying rushed investigations would see more cases failing at court.

Description

A known paedophile who repeatedly raped a nine-year-old girl despite being under community supervision was today jailed indefinitely.

Kevin Hazelwood, 40, was already on the sex offenders' register for downloading child pornography but was still able to subject the girl to a string of assaults. He was told he must serve a minimum of five years and seven months.

He pleaded guilty at Lewes crown court on March 10 to six counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape and two counts of indecent assault, all on the same victim.

Hazelwood, from Brighton, also admitted charges of sexual activity with or in the presence of a child under 13, historic assaults on a girl dating back to the 1980s and for making indecent movies of children.

Judge Richard Hayward said Hazelwood was "cunning and manipulative" and was "unable or unwilling" to control his paedophile urges.

The court heard that in October 2002 Hazelwood was placed on the sex offenders' register after pleading guilty to 20 specimen counts of making indecent pictures of children.

Judge Hayward told him: "Before anyone rushes to judgment on this issue, I must say that you alone are to blame. You are cunning and manipulative of people. You gave every indication of complying with the sex offenders' register and there is no reason why a hard-pressed probation officer or anyone else should know anything about it."

He added: "You are a determined and predatory paedophile and you will remain a danger to young girls for the foreseeable future."

Gillian Etherton, prosecuting, told the court how Hazelwood befriended the nine-year-old girl's parents before using the relationship to "systematically sexually abuse" her from when she was about six years old until two weeks before his arrest in November 2005.

Miss Etherton said: "It would appear from a fairly early stage that the defendant took a keen interest (in the young girl).

"At face value he appeared to get on well with her and would say to her mother that he would in effect take her up to her room to give mum breathing space."

The mother recalled that suggestions of sleepovers with the girl at Hazelwood's home were always initiated by him, Miss Etherton said.

She added that the abuse came to light in November 2005 when the girl disclosed to her mother in conversation that "uncle Kevin does it to me".

"The mother immediately understood what the disclosure meant," said Miss Etherton.

The girl also disclosed that when she would cry while being abused, Hazelwood would "call her a baby".

As a result of the girl's conversation with her mother, police were brought in and in interview she said Hazelwood had subjected her to three years of abuse.

Miss Etherton said: "He would sometimes say to her 'I'm bored, let's play a game' and he would often entice her with different games and presents.

"She described how she didn't want any presents because they reminded her of him."

The court heard that Hazelwood had taken indecent pictures of the girl and had threatened to send them to her mother if she failed to maintain her silence over the abuse.

Miss Etherton said: "She felt to some degree to blame and in trouble and to some degree that explains her silence."

Following the girl's police interview in November 2005, Hazelwood was arrested and questioned but initially declined to comment, except to admit abusing another young girl between 1981 and 1985.

He later admitted to making indecent images, including taking pictures of the nine-year-old girl, which were later deleted.