Latest Offenders Manchester

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A PAEDOPHILE who molested a little girl more than 20 years ago has finally been brought to justice. Convicted sex attacker Stephen Hunt, 44, indecently assaulted the youngster while he was babysitting her, a court heard. Hunt, of St Gabriel's Mews, Middleton Junction, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years behind bars at Bolton Crown Court last Thursday. He was banned from working with children for life.

A PAEDOPHILE who molested a little girl more than 20 years ago has finally been brought to justice.

Convicted sex attacker Stephen Hunt, 44, indecently assaulted the youngster while he was babysitting her, a court heard.

Hunt, of St Gabriel's Mews, Middleton Junction, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years behind bars at Bolton Crown Court last Thursday. He was banned from working with children for life.

Cries of 'scum' were heard from the public gallery as Hunt, an aircraft engineer, was led away to begin his jail term.

Judge William Morris, sentencing, said: "You have forced yourself upon this girl and subjected her to a terrible ordeal. You have abused the trust of this child's parents after they left her in your care.

"This girl has been deeply affected by this offence and it has led to significant psychological damage as a result.

"You have committed a very serious crime and this carries nothing less than a substantial custodial sentence."

The court was told that the attack took place in 1988 but the girl, now in her mid-20s, was too afraid to report it to police until last year. She cannot be named for legal reasons.

Iain Simkin, prosecuting, said: "This attack left the victim in some distress and has affected her confidence and ability to form close relationships with others ever since."

Hunt had pleaded guilty to indecent assault at a previous hearing. A pre-sentencing report presented to the court last week contained letters from the defendant's son and girlfriend, outlining his good character and caring nature.

During mitigation, Peter Cunliffe, defending, said: "While I do not want to gloss over the seriousness of this case, I would like to outline Mr Hunt's impeccable work record.

He has never been out of work and has provided good financial support to his family, especially his son, who has a young daughter.

"This is evident within the character letters submitted to the court on behalf of the defendant."

The court also heard that Hunt was convicted of indecently assaulting a woman in a taxi in 1996 and was sentenced to four months in jail.

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A LABOURER was jailed for a month and put on the sex offenders register for seven years after he slapped the bottom of an off-duty policewoman.

Anthony O'Neill, 22, was stunned when he was given the sentence. His relatives are furious and say the punishment is over-the-top for, what they say, was a silly joke. They say he has lost his job and been branded "a pervert".

O'Neill, pictured, ended up in trouble while he was drinking in a city centre street at 11am one day in November.

He told a court he thought it would be funny to smack the woman's behind when she bent down near him. Instead, the woman officer produced a police warrant card and arrested him.

O'Neill, of Goredale Avenue, Gorton, admitted sexual assault at Manchester Magistrates' Court. District Judge Paul Richardson told him: "What you did was insulting and demeaning - it was anything but funny."

Jailed

As well as being put on the register, he was jailed for a month but immediately released because he had already spent five weeks in custody.

After he was arrested, O'Neill admitted: "I have done it before. Some women like it, others don't." Outside court, O'Neill claimed he only admitted the sex assault charge because he wanted to be released after being held for 16 hours. He is considering an appeal.

He said: "I should have been sent away because it's taught me a lesson not to smack a woman's bum. But to be put on the sex offenders register is just daft."

'Drink'

O'Neill's mother, Karen, said: "I think it is terrible. People will see that and wonder what on earth has he done, and think it must be very serious. Rapists and serious sex abusers get put on for that long.

"He wouldn't harm anyone. Everyone can get a bit out of hand when they've had a drink."

The sex offenders register was set up in 1997 and holds details of about 29,000 people convicted, cautioned or released from prison for a sexual offence against children or adults.

Convicted sex offenders must register with the police within three days of their conviction or release from prison and failure to do so can result in prison. They must also inform police if they change their name or address.