Latest Offenders Surrey

Description

A "dangerous" and "obsessive" sex offender has been jailed after so-called paedophile hunters lured him into thinking he was grooming and meeting a 14-year-old girl.

Simon Landsberg, of High Street, Godstone, spoke to who he thought were three girls online and began grooming them before attempting to meet one of them at Ashburton Park, in Croydon.

The 68-year-old was confronted by the paedophile hunters on June 20 last year at the attempted rendezvous in the park, during which a court heard he had the "intent of committing sexual offences". The police were then called and he was arrested.

A video taken at the scene shows members of the public challenging Landsberg about the meeting, followed by officers leading him off in handcuffs. He first confirms his name is 'David' in reference to the name he used online before admitting to police later that he was called Simon.

He was charged with three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; attempting to meet a child under the age of 16; and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He had previously been convicted of facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, and was handed a three-year prison sentence in 2017. This, however, involved two real children.

A sentencing hearing at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday afternoon (February 11) heard how three people from various paedophile hunting groups posed as 14-year-old girls online.

Landsberg engaged in lengthy, predominantly sexual, conversations with these "entities", asking one of them about her body shape and telling her that he liked small breasts.

Judge Adam Hiddleston told the court: "You told her you loved her and wanted to kiss, cuddle and massage her."

He added: "You told her you had been in trouble before for falling in love with younger girls and you instructed her to delete all the communication between the two of you."

Disturbingly, Judge Hiddleston told the sentencing hearing that Landsberg had "told her that when you did [meet] you expected her to urinate in her pants".

He added: "When you turned up at the park you were confronted by members of the public who were part of a group who had communicated with you, pretending to be the victim."

The defendant engaged in similar discussions with the two other profiles, lying about his age, claiming he was 43, and discussing massaging and touching them.

All of his communications mainly focused on how the 14-year-old girls "might go about sexually stimulating themselves" before asking them to delete all of the messages.

After his arrest, police conducted a search of his person and discovered two mobile phones and a WiFi dongle. A property search uncovered a laptop, on which almost all of the conversations had been deleted.

The court heard that Landsberg is "dangerous in the way that he has conducted himself" and "has made efforts to hide his continuing sexual offending".

He committed these offences while he was on licence for his previous sexual offending and was in breach of a number of conditions of the SHPO imposed by Guildford Crown Court in 2017.

A pre-sentence report read aloud to the court said: "He exploited the apparent vulnerability of all three victims and his behaviour throughout was sexually motivated.

"He gave no thoughts as to the detrimental effects on them, and if not for his arrest, I believe his behaviour would have continued."

It added: "I would describe his behaviour as bordering on the obsessive."

Defence barrister David Stanton said Landsberg needs to seek help for his actions, as they transgress criminal law and could have affected many people, had the people he was speaking to not been decoys.

Mr Stanton said: "He very much regrets and is remorseful of his actions. He genuinely feels that what he has done is unforgivable."

Landsberg was handed a prison sentence of 44 months, with an extended licence period of 36 months. Judge Hiddleston made an order for a new SHPO, as well as the forfeiture and destruction of the items seized during police searches.

Description

Derek Winston Seekings, 66, of Southern Way in Farnborough, retired from the force in 2005 and was charged with the offences in July 2019.

On Wednesday (January 13), Judge Stephen Mooney passed sentence for one count of rape, half of which is to be served behind bars; Seekings can then be released on licence where he will be liable to recall.

Judge Mooney issued the predator with a nine-year prison sentence for the other count of rape, which will run concurrently to the first. Seekings will also be on the sex offenders register for life.

Both attacks took place between 1994 and 2000 in Surrey against a woman who cannot be named for legal reasons.

One of the attacks took place during the officer's meal break while he was on duty, with the other taking place off duty. He was found guilty of his crimes on Friday (January 8) following a four-day trial.

Surrey Police has revealed that Seekings, who retired as a sergeant after 32 years' service, was originally charged with seven offences of rape but his indictment was subsequently amended to two counts.

Speaking at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Jennifer Gray read aloud a statement from the victim. The court heard how Seekings' not guilty plea caused her "panic attacks" and "many dark moments".

Reading the statement on behalf of the victim, Ms Gray said: "Every contact regarding the trial heightened my anxiety. At times I thought I was suffering a cardiac event and thought I would not be able to continue."

Court had previously heard Ms Gray explain how Seekings committed one of the offences while on duty. She said: "She made it very clear to him she didn't want to have sex with him, he carried on regardless and he raped her."

Following this, Seekings returned to work. The jury was also told the disgraced ex-sergeant was suspended from duty for a number of months and demoted to PC in the late 1990s following a car accident which led to a driving conviction.

Passing sentence, Judge Mooney said he would be treating the defendant's role in the police force as an aggravating factor and said his actions were a breach of the public's trust in him.

In his final remarks, Judge Mooney also noted the victim has suffered "severe psychological harm" as a result of the attacks.

Seekings was still in the dock when the sentence was delivered, before he was led down to the cells below.

Description

A green-haired sex offender who spoke to girls as young as 10 years old about wrestling and films, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was spared jail after a court heard he is gay and 'has no interest in females'.

Jake Paradise, from Bagshot, Surrey, had used Facebook and WhatsApp messenger to speak to the girls, who were both known to him, without their parents being aware of his serious previous convictions from 2015.

The 28-year-old had been banned from speaking to any child when he was slapped with a court order in 2016 because of his past offending, which a court heard was in relation to boy victims.

Despite knowing the requirements of the order, Paradise had spoken to a 12-year-old girl for at least 25 days from June 15 2017 and then further to a 10-year-old girl from April 1 2018.

Sophie Murray, prosecuting, said: 'It was put forward by the prosecution that the case was category-A due to the persistent nature of the communications.

'I understand that on the last occasion they [the communications] were gone through in some detail, nothing sexual in nature seems to have been communicated, they are in relation to wrestling, films, things of that sort.

'The parents of both girls were not aware of his previous convictions at the time he was communicating with them. He has said he is homosexual and has no interest in females and his previous convictions relate to boys rather than girls.'

Paradise, who had sported green hair on the last occasion he appeared in Reading Crown Court, had admitted two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and appeared for sentence.

The author of a pre-sentence report had recommended that he be spared jail, a lawyer defending him said, as long as he completes a programme which helps sex offenders stop committing new crimes.

Judge Paul Dugdale, sitting at Reading Crown Court, said: 'I get a sense of these things when I read the texts and I may be wrong, but I do not get the impression that there was anything in this context that was of a sexual nature or was intended to be so.

'As Mr Paradise has pointed out, it is not the sort of contact he would have.'

Paradise, who wore fingerless fishnet gloves and a blue hoodie, the hair on his scalp died blond but at the end of his long, pony-tailed hair the colour changed into a streak of light blue.

The judge told him: 'I think now you know how serious these orders are and the real risk here is that if there had been any suggestion that this contact was anything other than perhaps a foolish error of judgement and that there was anything sexual in it at all, if there was any suggestion of anything else, you would have been going straight inside. You really need to understand that.'

Judge Dugdale sentenced Paradise, of Bagshot Green, Bagshot, Surrey, to a 30-month community order with one rehabilitation activity requirement, which meant the defendant would have to complete 30 days of the Horizon programme.

Description

Millan Rajasooriar was busted by police who were behind the operation A man who travelled to meet a 13-year-old girl to attempt sexual offences was arrested when he instead was collared by specialist officers. Millan Rajasooriar, 34, of Hampton Road, Worcester Park, London pleaded guilty at Guildford Crown Court on October 26 to one count of attempting sexual communication with a child and one count of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. Rajasooriar was sentenced today (Friday) to 30 months in prison for attempting to commit child sex offences following an investigation by the South East Regional Crime Unit (SEROCU). On October 28, 2019, Rajasooriar had travelled to Ashtead Train Station, Surrey where he expected to meet a 13-year-old child to commit sexual offences - but was instead met by officers from SEROCU and arrested. This arrest followed a proactive, intelligence-led investigation relating to sexual offences with a child during October 2019. A series of messages, which were of a sexual nature, were sent by Rajasooriar on WhatsApp, to whom he thought was a 13-year-old girl. He used the messages to arrange the meeting with the child, but in this case, there was never a real-life victim and no children were in any danger. After his arrest, Rajasooriars phone was examined and was found to contain an indecent image of a child. He was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and a further sexual harm prevention order to run in line with his registration period. Detective Inspector Phil Attwood of SEROCU, said: Rajasooriar thought he would be meeting a child who was only 13-years-old to engage in sex with him, but was arrested and pleaded guilty to overwhelming evidence against him. Rajasooriar now faces a prison term and when he is released his name will go on the Sex Offenders Register and he will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely. This was a successful pro-active operation led by South East Regional Crime Unit officers and forms part of our continued priority to protect children from sexual exploitation from those who seek to do them harm. If anyone has been a victim of child sexual abuse, I would urge you to report it to your local police force via 101. We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred. "Victims can talk in confidence to experienced Investigators and we can also help them get access to a range of other support services.

Description

A paedophile has been jailed for more than nine years for multiple child sex offences. James Thompson, from Reigate Road in Dorking, was jailed for nine years and nine months at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday (July 23). The 53-year-old had pleaded guilty in March to 20 charges of sexual offences against children, as well as numerous indecent image offences. Investigating officer Detective Constable Daniel Chan said: Thompsons young victims have shown such bravery throughout this process. This case could not have been successful without their courage in giving evidence. "Thanks to the support that the victims and their parents have given, this investigation has resulted in putting a dangerous sexual predator, who targeted young children, behind bars. This was a lengthy and complex investigation which involved use of digital forensic techniques on a large number of devices found in Thompsons possession. I would like to thank colleagues from all involved departments for their hard work in ensuring he has been brought to justice for his heinous crimes. He added: Surrey Police is committed to fully investigating all offences of this nature and I hope that this case will encourage anyone else who has been abused in this way to come forward in the knowledge that they will be believed. A police statement, released on Friday (July 24), says his offending was uncovered when the father of one of the victims reported to police that his daughter had been sexually assaulted by Thompson in July 2018. An investigation was launched and a further two victims were identified. During the course of the investigation, police say they seized more than 30 devices, including mobile phones, tablets and laptops from Thompson. Further examination of the devices revealed that he had downloaded more than 670 indecent images of children. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children released a statement following Thompson's sentencing. It says: The charges brought against Thompson are extremely disturbing and it is now vital that the survivors of his abuse receive support to help them move forward with their lives. We want anyone who has experienced sexual abuse to be able to speak out and seek support." The charges against Thompson include: - Two counts of assault a girl under 13 by touching; - Three counts of cause or incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity (non-penetrative); - Five counts of cause or incite a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity (penetrative); - Two counts of cause a child under 13 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity; - One count of engage in sexual communication with a child; - One count of making indecent photographs of a child (Category A, 125 images); - One count of making indecent photographs of a child (Category B, 163 images); - One count of making indecent photographs of a child (Category C, 168 images); - One count of possessing a prohibited image of a child (150 images); - One count of possessing extreme pornographic images portraying an act of intercourse or oral sex with a dead or alive animal (2 images); - One count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child (Category A, 5 images); - One count of distributing an indecent photograph of a child (Category C, 4 images)

Description

A pervert turned up hoping to meet a 14-year-old girl he had been grooming online but was instead greeted by paedophile hunters and police.

Tony Watson had engaged in sexual chat with the profile of what he thought was a schoolgirl called Amy but was in fact Dark Justice.

After switching the conversation from a website to WhatsApp, he suggested they go on a camping trip, asked if she slept naked, asked if she would like to lose her virginity soon and asked about her genitals.

Watson then arranged to meet her at Newcastle Central Station but when he turned up he was arrested.

Now the 52-year-old has been given a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court after he admitted attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, said Watson first contacted the Amy profile in September 2018 on the Fast Flirting website.

She told him she was 14 and discussed going to school.

Mr Burns told the court: "He asked if she had met anyone from dating sites and asked what was doing that Thursday or Friday and if she fancied meeting."

When they moved the chat to WhatsApp, he made suggestions about buying her clothes and they exchanged photographs - his face and her in a vest and a dress, which he said he liked.

Mr Burns said: "The grooming continued for the next few days and he offered to take her for a drive to the park, suggested camping out, asked if she sleeps naked and asked if she wanted to remain a virgin much longer and asked if she would like to lose her virginity soon."

He also asked about her genitals and discussed having sex and they then arranged to meet

Watson, of Kingsway, Blackwater, Hampshire, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years with supervision. He must also do a sex offenders programme and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Sarah Mallett said he had given a dishonest account of the offence when he spoke to probation and was talking "self-pity and nonsense".

But she said the long delay in the case being concluded was punishment in itself and that she would suspend the sentence in order to give him time to complete the work needed to address his offending behaviour.

Deborah Smithies, defending, said: "He has lost his good name. He is 52 and has never been before a court before."

She added that he has been anxious and frightened about the outcome of the case and that the proceedings have "left their mark" on him.

Miss Smithies said there had been a "certain amount of denial" on Watson's part when talking to probation and that he "demonstrates a lack of insight".

Description

A man has been jailed for two-and-a-half years over indecent images of children.

Graham Robert Mead, from Coulsdon, was yesterday (Thursday, June 18) sentenced to a total of 30 months at Guildford Crown Court for a number of offences, including making and taking indecent images of children.

Mead, 46, of Portnalls Road, had admitted arranging or commissioning a child sex offence, making an indecent photograph of a child, and three offences of taking indecent images of a child at earlier hearings.

A Surrey Police investigation was launched in February last year after a tip-off about Meads online activity.

Their investigation showed he had been using the messaging app Kik to look for individuals who had children or access to them. Detectives also identified a vulnerable teenage victim, who Mead had taken advantage of.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Steve Branch said: We welcome the sentence the court has imposed. It sends a clear message to anyone targeting or abusing children that you cannot hide online or behind a username.

"We will find you and investigate your activity thoroughly to bring you to justice.

Our inquiries showed Mead had 2,500 chat logs on his mobile device from Kik. He would seek others who had access to children in order to facilitate sexual abuse and sought indecent images. It became clear Mead was extremely manipulative and this sentence demonstrates just how seriously the courts took our concerns for the safety of those that he may have come into contact with."

The sentencing has led to officers reminding parents and carers to help children understand the dangers of using the internet.

They are urged to talk to their children and allow them to feel comfortable about raising any issues or concerns they have and ensure the youngsters are aware that people arent always who they say they are online.

Parents and teenagers are urged to know the signs of grooming, whether online or in person, and are encouraged to report any suspicions to police.

Description

A 32-year-old man from Redhill has been jailed for downloading more than 11,000 indecent images of children in a four-year period.

Andrew Sandrasagra gave his address to the court as Hartley Downs in Purley, but Surrey Police says he lived in Redhill at the time of the offences.

He tried to claim he could not have downloaded the images and changed information on his digital devices to try and deceive police.

However, he was convicted on June 18 of downloading 11,046 images after a trial at Guildford Crown Court ; 108 of the images were in category A, the most serious, while the majority - 10,892 - were in category C.

Sandrasagra was also convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice in connection with his efforts to cover-up his crimes. Judge Rufus Taylor jailed him for 15 months on Monday (August 5).

Detective Inspector Martin Goodwin said: "This case sends a clear message that you cannot hide your illegal online activity. Sandrasagra claimed that he could not have downloaded the images and attempted to pervert the course of justice by changing information on his personal devices to back up his claims.

"Due to a thorough investigation by both the Paedophile Online Investigation Team and the Digital Forensic Team he was unable to dupe the court and claim his innocence.

"The forensic expertise of the teams working collaboratively has prevented further offending and protected vulnerable children from further harm.

"I hope that this sentence means that whilst in prison Sandrasagra now takes responsibility for his actions to access support and changes his behaviour to avoid future offending."

In addition to his prison sentence, Sandrasagra is subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register for the next 10 years.

Description

A former traffic controller from Camberley has been jailed for abusing two boys in the 1990s.

Peter Chiverton, now 53, of Upper College Ride, was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison on Monday (July 15) after he was convicted of abusing the boys on several occasions.

Passing sentence at Guildford Crown Court, Judge Peter Moss said the abuse had left one of his victims with "psychological issues" and the other with feelings of guilt that still affect him to this day.

Judge Moss explained Chiverton had "groomed" the two boys before sexually abusing them. In total, he was convicted of eight separate counts, including one of indecent assault "involving penetration", the judge said.

In mitigation, Chiverton's barrister, Sarah Read, told the court he was a man of previous good character who had worked for 23 years as a traffic controller before retiring due to ill health. One of his former colleagues, she said, described Chiverton as "a caring person; a shy chap whose heart is in the right place".

Ms Read added that he continued to live with health problems, including mobility difficulties, back pain and depression, particularly following the death of his mother and aunt.

Chiverton will serve half of his nine-and-a-half-year sentence in prison and will then be released on licence, during which time he can be recalled to prison if he commits further offences or breaches the terms of his parole.

He has also been made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Description

A paedophile has been jailed for 11 years after he was convicted of sexually abusing a girl.

Richard Rowles, 42, of Churchill Way, Sunbury, began abusing his victim when she was just six years old and did so on repeated occasions.

The victim only came forward in October 2017, prompting a police investigation and Rowles' eventual conviction for multiple offences including sexual assaulting a girl under 13 and causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Detective Constable Sara McDowell, who investigated the case, said: "I would like to pay tribute to the victim for her bravery in not only coming forward in the first place, but then for re-living her ordeal when she gave evidence in court.

"I hope that the fact that Rowles has received a lengthy jail sentence can help her to move on with her life.

"Surrey Police takes all reports involving sexual offences extremely seriously and we would encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of a similar offence to come forward."

Description

A convicted Mytchett paedophile was jailed again for viewing indecent images of children while on licence for similar offences.

Christopher Manley, of Coleford Bridge Road, used a monitored laptop and a tablet he had hidden from police to look at the images and message girls online.

The 50-year-old googled terms such as "chubby teens" but told police when they visited his home on June 1, 2018: "I was looking at porn but not children, I wasn't searching for that.

"I was looking for teen stuff but nothing younger than that."

He was jailed for three years at Guildford Crown Court in June after admitting to possessing extreme pornographic images, six counts of making indecent images of a child and breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The offences were racked up on two separate occasions, with the second offences being committed while Manley was under investigation for the first set.

Description

A convicted rapist who subjected his victim to an "incredulous and cruel" 90 minute sex attack in some bushes in Camberley has been jailed. Floris-Adrian Gherghelau, 25, of Park Road, Camberley was a stranger to his teenage victim, whom he had followed and then "grabbed" in a secluded area. He was handed a sentence of up to 16 years imprisonment by Miss Recorder June Venters QC at Guildford Crown Court on Friday (March 8), being described as a "dangerous sexual deviant". A jury found Gherghelau guilty of five charges - including two counts of rape and one of attempted rape - on January 14. The court heard how the victim, 18, had taken an overdose following the attack, described as "terrifying" by Recorder Venters. A victim impact statement read out in court said: "I didn't feel I was getting the support and became so low. "I then took an overdose of painkillers as a way to show that I didn't care for my life at that time and needed more support. Following this I was referred to a psychologist." Prosecutor Ryan Richter said that Gherghelau's victim could now not sleep without "taking a knife to bed" and "doesn't know if she will ever recover from the events". Surrey Police said in a statement that Gherghelau admitted the attack during a police interview, but later denied the charges in court. Recorder Venters said: "Your offence was both incredulous and cruel. As if this young woman had not been through enough, you continued to humiliate her before a jury by suggesting she was a willing participant." While giving evidence, the 25-year-old reportedly claimed that he had kissed his victim, who kissed him back before both walked into the bushes together to have sex. Both defence counsel Lyall Thompson and Recorder Venters agreed that Gherghelau showed "no remorse" for his actions, showing only sorrow for his own situation. However, Mr Thompson did pay reference in mitigation to the fact this was his client's first conviction, suggesting: "Could this be a one-off moment of madness?" The barrister also noted that Gherghelau was of "low intelligence". The 25-year-old's victim even offered to pay him to let her go. "She panicked and struggled, trying everything possible to break away from your grip of her, but which was to no avail," added Recorder Venters. "She was I have no doubt terrified. She had no idea who you were or what you intended on doing to her. "What happened next could only have been an absolutely terrifying, painful, humiliating experience which will live with her for the rest of her life." Gherghelau was handed a 14 year jail term, extended to 16 years with two on licence. The court heard how the 25-year-old, who is a Romanian national, is "almost certain" to be deported from the UK upon his release from prison. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life. The Surrey Police investigation Surrey Police has described the investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of Gherghelau for these offences. Following the attack, his victim sought help at a nearby petrol station - staff contacted police and a full description of the offender was given. The attacker's DNA was found on the victim, meaning that a successful match would positively identify. Local knowledge, coupled with the description of the offender, led officers to a local address where elimination samples were taken from all the male occupants. Gherghelau proved a positive DNA match and was subsequently arrested. Speaking outside Guildford Crown Court after the sentencing, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Adam Ramiz commented on the "bravery" of the victim. He said: "The victim in relation to this matter demonstrated extreme bravery in relation to the incident itself - reporting it to police and then supporting the police throughout the investigation. "She has suffered extreme trauma in the matter, but thankfully she is being well supported now. "I really welcome the extended sentence today and I agree with the judge. I believe that Gherghelau is a very serious and dangerous offender."

Description

The National Crime Agency (NCA) swooped on Fox after linking him to horrific footage of child sex abuse online. He was arrested on September 5, 2018 as NCA officers seized his laptop which contained a vast amount of abuse images and videos.

Some showed him raping and indecently assaulting a boy. Fox had posted the footage online for other paedophiles to view and other videos showed him abusing a girl.

The 26-year-old, from Ewell, denied posting the videos online but admitted attacking the children. He was jailed at Kingston Crown Court in March after admitting 19 offences, including seven counts of rape.

He also admitted possession of indecent images of children 4,743 category A images or videos (the most severe), 4,263 category B and 3,995 category C.

Description

A man who spent months repeatedly indecently assaulting a young girl after grooming her has been jailed.

Clive Manning was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, January 7, of 12 historic counts of indecent assault on the victim, who was under 10 at the time.

Manning, 54, of Burnt Oak Lane, Newdigate, lived in Crawley at the time of the offences.

After months of sexual abuse, he moved out of the area and a chance meeting with the victim led her to finally report it in October 2017.

He was arrested and charged, pleading not guilty to the allegations ahead of his trial. However a jury found him guilty. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday (January 16).

Detective Sergeant Martin Alchin-Gadd, of Sussex Police, said: "The victim was very brave to come forward after all this time.

"She has lived with the abuse she suffered as a child for a long time before deciding to come and speak to us. Now she has seen justice served.

"We will always take allegations of this nature seriously, regardless of how much time has passed since they happened, and a full investigation will take place. Wherever there is sufficient evidence, we will seek to bring offenders to justice."

Description

A 20-year-old man from Staines has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual abusing a five-year-old girl.

Tyler Eastley, of Lowlands Drive, was convicted of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration after a four-day trial at Guildford Crown Court in July 2018.

Passing sentence on Friday (November 2), Judge Alexia Durran described Eastley as "an immature young man" with a history of substance abuse who had engaged in "a degree of grooming" before assaulting his victim.

Reading a statement from the victim's mother, prosecuting barrister Allister Walker said of the victim: "She has become a different child since the incident."

The statement went on to describe the victim's changed behaviour, saying she had become afraid of men in hats and police cars, as she thought Eastley might be in the back of one.

"She felt guilty and that she was to blame," Mr Walker read.

Speaking after the trial, but before sentencing, the mother had already described how the family had struggled to come to terms with Eastley's actions.

She said: "We are devastated by what has happened.

"We feel it is very important for people to be made aware of what he has done to such a young child and we sincerely hope that this will never happen again.

Speaking in mitigation, defence barrister Rupert Hallowes said: "The fact of the matter is this defendant has had a wretched upbringing characterised by violent relationships and perpetual instability.

"He is a defendant who has never managed to form a stable relationship with anyone."

Mr Hallowes went on to say Eastley was "not a hopeless case by any stretch of the imagination" and that "he knows he must take his medicine now".

However, he added that Eastley could well serve his full sentence behind bars "if he doesn't take steps to address his offending".

Judge Durran said Eastley would spend a maximum of nine years in prison and a further period on licence, during which time he could be recalled to prison for any further offences, and that he would serve a minimum of four-and-a-half years before being considered for parole.

She also imposed a sexual harm prevention order, banning him from staying in the same house as or having unsupervised contact with girls under 16, unless their parents had been informed of his offending and consented, and said his name would be placed on the sex offenders register.