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A sex offender who committed a series of historic sex offences in Staffordshire dating back decades has been convicted. Dean Hearson, of Brown Edge, a village in the county, was put on trial charged with 15 counts of indecent assault on a male and four counts of indecency with a child.

The offences were reported to Staffordshire Police in 2018, but dated back to the 1990s and early 2000s. Once reported the Staffordshire force’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team launched an investigation.

The 55-year-old was found guilty of the 19 charges at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday (October 16). He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A former Bedfordshire Police officer who targeted vulnerable teenage girls over social media for sexual gratification has been jailed for over three years today (Wednesday 16 October).

Elliot Wright, aged 29 from Henlow, Bedfordshire, was working as an officer in the collaborated Roads Policing Unit when he arranged to meet a teenage girl who was at risk after finishing a shift on 21 March this year.

The girl, from Hertfordshire, was subject to a deprivation of liberty order for her own safety. Staff at her care home contacted police when they saw her getting into a car, and officers were able to track down Wright’s vehicle near his home in Bedfordshire a short time later and arrested him.

The victim told officers Wright had asked her to delete his messages before he was stopped. Following his arrest by Hertfordshire Constabulary officers, detectives traced potential further victims on his social media including a 16-year-old girl who he had paid in return for sexual images.

An investigation into Wright, led by Hertfordshire Constabulary, showed he had been aware she was vulnerable and often needed money to buy food. He offered her £3 on one occasion for images.

He was soon charged and was immediately suspended by Bedfordshire Police at the time of his arrest. He had his vetting removed and was dismissed from the force in July.

Wright pleaded guilty to three counts of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, arranging the sexual exploitation of a child, abduction of a child in care, paying for the sexual services of a child and perverting the course of justice. A further charge of misconduct in a public office, which he denied, was ordered to lay on his file.

He was sentenced by a High Court judge to a total of 42 months at St Albans Crown Court, and will serve half his sentence in prison and the second half on licence. Wright was also granted an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A paedophile from Nottingham exchanged sexual messages with a 12-year-old girl “because he was sitting at home bored”. Pervert Richard Bull asked the girl for photos of her breasts.

But ‘Dani’ was really an undercover police officer posing as a young girl to snare like-minded sex offenders like the Bestwood 62-year-old. Jailing him for three years and four months, Judge James Sampson said: “You thought you were talking to a real 12-year-old and you were trying to get that child to engage in abusive, sexual, activity.

“In the event, there was no child because this was a police officer posing as a child decoy. The custody threshold has been crossed by some margin and I have no option other than to send you to prison.”

Stephen Kemp, prosecuting, said an undercover police officer created a fake profile for a 12-year-old girl called Dani and began posting on a social media site. He said Bull began talking to her online on July 4, last year, and their conversations soon moved to WhatsApp.

The prosecutor said: “Over a period of time, Mr Bull was asking for photos of her in her underwear and photos of her breasts." The prosecutor said Bull also asked the 'teen' if he could be her "virtual boyfriend".

"He sent her an image of himself, but it is right to say it was not a sexual image," said Mr Kemp. Mr Kemp said the communication stopped on July 20, last year and Bull, of The Mount, was arrested on July 27.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to cause or incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage a child under 13 to engage in sexual communication. He has two previous convictions for unrelated offences from many years ago which the judge discounted when he sentenced him.

Mark Hemmings, mitigating, said the fact that ‘Dani’ was an undercover police officer meant that there was no actual victim and that his client had pleaded guilty to the two offences. He said: “He is 62, nearly 63 and he is not in good health.

“He has been out of work through sickness for a considerable time and Mr Bull says these offences began because he was sitting at home bored and got into this wrong element of behaviour.”

As well as the jail sentence, Judge Sampson handed the defendant a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and placed him on the sex offender register, also for life.

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A registered sex offender from Tunbridge Wells has been caught using a fake online profile during attempts to groom and abuse a child.

Peter Johnson has now been jailed after he ignored previous measures imposed by the courts to prevent him from reoffending and targeted a teenage girl over several days.

Johnson, formerly known as Peter Austen, had been convicted in 2017 of possessing indecent images of children. For these offences, he received a suspended sentence and was added to the sex offender register for 10 years.

Alias

In October 2023, officers from Kent Police’s Offender Management Unit discovered Johnson had been using the social media platform Snapchat and was posting under an alias of Matt Harper.  

He had been contacting another user who told him she was only 13 and sent her a series of explicit images over several days, which included videos of himself.

Under the guise of Matt Harper, he had also sent voice messages, and images of himself fully clothed.

Unbeknown to Johnson, the child did not exist – her profile was part of a fictitious account. Some of the images he had sent showed his face and officers were able to recognise him as being Peter Johnson.

He was arrested on 15 November at his home near Liptraps Lane.

A phone was seized and checks led to the discovery of an illegal image of a child, in the most serious category.

Johnson, 37, was charged with engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing a child to engage in a sexual act, causing a child to view an image of sexual activity, making an indecent image of a child and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

He pleaded guilty and on 10 October 2024 Johnson was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to three years’ imprisonment, having already served almost a year on remand.

When he has served his sentence, Johnson will be subject to a 12-year sexual harm prevention order and will have to comply with sex offender notification requirements, for life.

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A mother was shocked to find out her partner was a convicted sex offender.

Karl Everiss had assured the woman he had no previous convictions and had never even been arrested before she let him meet her children. She had no idea he had been to prison for sexual activity with a child until the police came to her and broke the news.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Everiss was jailed for four years in July 2017 for four counts of sexual activity with a child. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

In September this year, police carried out a home visit on him and found he had been using an alias of "silver fox" on Facebook, a name he had not registered with police as he was supposed to.

Following that, police made further inquiries and discovered Everiss had been in a relationship with a woman in Ashington. They went to her home and she said she had been in a relationship with him for around 12 months and that he had been staying there two or three times a week.

She also confirmed that her children had been present on some of the occasions he had been there. His contact with the children put him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Albany Kidd, prosecuting, told the court: "She said after three months she let him meet the children after asking him if he had any previous convictions. He told her he was of good character and had never been arrested and was not that kind of person.

"Her children don't permanently reside there but they had been present on numerous occasions at the same time as the defendant, although they have never been left alone with him. However he did stay overnight while they were there."

The woman said Everiss was asleep upstairs and when police went up, they found him lying on the floor and he appeared to be trying to hide.

Everiss, 53, of Juliet Street, Ashington, who has 28 previous convictions, including two previous failures to comply with the sex offender notification requirements, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the sex offender notification requirements and failing to comply with the sexual harm prevention order.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Tim Gittins said: "It's clear from what she had to say that she had started that relationship with you and allowed you to meet her children only on the understanding you were of good character. So there was a degree of deceit and manipulation by you.

"There is no evidence of harm here, beyond, no doubt, the awful sense of the reality hitting (the woman) and her children when it transpired what your true character was, when the police notified her of the circumstances of your previous conviction."

Helen Towers, defending, said: "His greatest mitigation is his early guilty plea, entered at the first opportunity." She added: "He didn't have a huge amount of contact with the children and there's no allegation of any untoward behaviour."

Record details

A mother was shocked to find out her partner was a convicted sex offender.

Karl Everiss had assured the woman he had no previous convictions and had never even been arrested before she let him meet her children. She had no idea he had been to prison for sexual activity with a child until the police came to her and broke the news.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Everiss was jailed for four years in July 2017 for four counts of sexual activity with a child. He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

In September this year, police carried out a home visit on him and found he had been using an alias of "silver fox" on Facebook, a name he had not registered with police as he was supposed to.

Following that, police made further inquiries and discovered Everiss had been in a relationship with a woman in Ashington. They went to her home and she said she had been in a relationship with him for around 12 months and that he had been staying there two or three times a week.

She also confirmed that her children had been present on some of the occasions he had been there. His contact with the children put him in breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Albany Kidd, prosecuting, told the court: "She said after three months she let him meet the children after asking him if he had any previous convictions. He told her he was of good character and had never been arrested and was not that kind of person.

"Her children don't permanently reside there but they had been present on numerous occasions at the same time as the defendant, although they have never been left alone with him. However he did stay overnight while they were there."

The woman said Everiss was asleep upstairs and when police went up, they found him lying on the floor and he appeared to be trying to hide.

Everiss, 53, of Juliet Street, Ashington, who has 28 previous convictions, including two previous failures to comply with the sex offender notification requirements, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with the sex offender notification requirements and failing to comply with the sexual harm prevention order.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Tim Gittins said: "It's clear from what she had to say that she had started that relationship with you and allowed you to meet her children only on the understanding you were of good character. So there was a degree of deceit and manipulation by you.

"There is no evidence of harm here, beyond, no doubt, the awful sense of the reality hitting (the woman) and her children when it transpired what your true character was, when the police notified her of the circumstances of your previous conviction."

Helen Towers, defending, said: "His greatest mitigation is his early guilty plea, entered at the first opportunity." She added: "He didn't have a huge amount of contact with the children and there's no allegation of any untoward behaviour."

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A man who repeatedly abused a young girl, treating her, in her words, as, “a sex toy”, was today (Tuesday, October 15) sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Allan Spacey committed the offences on a victim who a judge said he knew was, “young, naïve and vulnerable”, at the time.

But Durham Crown Court heard that despite being convicted of the offending, following a trial in August, the 68-year-old defendant of The Crescent, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, remains in denial.

The court was told the victim felt alone in the world and self-harmed as well as attempting to take her own life twice, in the wake of the abuse.

But she eventually disclosed what had happened to her at Spacey’s hands and it led to the defendant being charged with six counts of sexual assault, one accounting for multiple offences.

Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said after the police became involved, Spacey sent the girl numerous messages.

He went on trial at the court on August 19 and, following a week-long hearing, was found guilty on all six counts by the jury, including some of sexual assault on a girl under 13.

Today’s sentencing hearing was read an impact statement by the victim who said she still struggles to believe what Spacey did to her and what he took from her, having put her, “through hell.”

Labelling her abuser as, "weak and pathetic", she said: “I want to protect other young girls and show them what Alan Spacey is.”

She said she was, “young and naïve” at the time and that Spacey knew how vulnerable she was.

“How can you blame a child for her own sexual assault,” she stated, and she said she fears the effects of Spacey's abuse will live with her for the rest of her life.

But she said his “sick perversions” have made her strong, and, following his conviction, she now feels, “on her way to better days.”

The court heard Spacey has 12 convictions for 38 past offences, but those are relatively old and unrelated to the present matter.

Robert Mochrie, in mitigation, said there was little he could say on his client’s behalf, as, “unhappily he still denies this was the correct verdict.”

But he said the defendant accepts, in the light of that verdict, that the judge must perform her public duty and pass an appropriate sentence.

“He is, of course, 68 and any sentence will take him into old age.

“As there are multiple offences, I ask you take into account totality.”

Mr Mochrie added: “As he will be an elderly gentleman when released you might be able to temper sentence slightly to take account of that.”

Judge Sarah Mallett quoted the victim in describing the defendant having treated her, “like a sex toy,” and having put her, “through hell”.

The judge told Spacey: “You knew how young, naïve and vulnerable she was.

“At the time she was self-harming and tried to commit suicide twice.

“Despite everything she has endured, however, she has matured and is an impressive young woman.”

The judge said the defendant has had, “a strong work ethic”, through his life and she bore in mind his age, but she noted, “there was an absence of guilty pleas in this case.”

Imposing the 15-year sentence, Judge Mallett said Spacey would have to serve at least two-thirds before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.

Upon completion of the sentence, he will also have to serve an additional year the subject of licence supervision.

Other aspects of the sentence mean he will be barred from ever working with children and will not be allowed unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, by way of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Spacey will also be subject to notification requirements by way of registration as a sex offender, again indefinitely.

A lifetime restraining order prevents him for ever contacting or approaching his victim.

Record details

A man from Wallsend who used social media platforms to send explicit messages to and request indecent images from children has been sentenced following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Daniel Lee, 29, used multiple social media platforms to send more than 60,000 messages across 2,405 conversations to acquire indecent images of children through conversations with victims.

NCA officers recovered a total of 97 Category A, 94 Category B and 215 Category C images and videos from his device.

Nine UK male and female child victims were identified, aged between 13 and 16 at the time of his offending.

In one chat, a 14-year-old victim told Lee her age but he continued to engage in sexually explicit messaging via social media and using voice notes.

In another, Lee asked the age of his victim and continued to ask for indecent images after he was told she was 15.

Lee also deliberately used a false profile image on his accounts, telling one 14-year-old victim that he was 16 and sending her £20 during the course of the conversation to encourage sexually explicit messages. Lee swapped more than 4000 messages with this victim alone.

When searching Lee's phone, officers found that Lee had also messaged a number of accounts asking if they were selling sexual content. Numerous messages indicated he wanted to pay for images, videos or live 'sessions' but had no money to pay.

Lee was arrested at his home in August 2022. On arrest, he told NCA officers "I hold my hands up to it, I should never have done it". He went on to provide a no comment interview.

He was charged with 45 offences including inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, sexual communication with a child and making and distributing indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to all the offences at Newcastle Crown Court in July 2024.

Lee was jailed for four years and five months at the same court today. He will be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Danielle Pownall from the National Crime Agency said: "The NCA is committed to protecting children and bringing those who seek this material out to justice.

"Daniel Lee was a prolific offender, targeting children on social media sites and soliciting illegal images from them for his own gratification.

"We uncovered tens of thousands of messages on Lee's device, both to his victims and to other accounts to request sexual content. He preyed on vulnerable children to continue his offending."

Bethany Raine, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said: "Daniel Lee made a number of different accounts with false personas, for the predatory purpose of targeting children online and obtaining sexual images of them.

"His offending has affected dozens of children, who were manipulated and exploited, all for his own sexual gratification.

"The CPS will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue justice for victims and prosecuting those who engage in online child sexual abuse."

Record details

A BASILDON man, who has been described as a "monster," has been jailed for sexually assaulting a child multiple times.

Harrison Hawkins, 37, of Kings Road, Steeple View, Basildon, was sentenced to a total of four years and six months in prison.

At the same court in May, Hawkins admitted three counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, two counts of taking indecent images of a child, and one count of possession of extreme pornographic material.

Officers launched an investigation in June 2020 after receiving reports of indecent images of a child on Hawkins' phone.

Then, allegations of sexual abuse were put to Hawkins in November 2021 after the victim bravely told officers from our Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) about further incidents.

Hawkins was interviewed about these allegations and replied "no comment" when questioned.

He was subsequently charged and pleaded not guilty to all charges but changed his plea to guilty midway through the trial.

Today he was sentenced to four years and six months behind bars for sexual assault of a child and 24 months behind bars for two further counts of sexual assault on a child.

He was also jailed for nine months for each count of taking indecent images of a child and three months for possession of an extreme pornographic image.

All the sentences will run concurrently.

Hawkins was also given a 10-year restraining order and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The court ordered forfeiture and destruction of devices connected to the images and to pay a victim surcharge of £120.

He has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Det Con Ian Burgess, who led the investigation, said: “Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of Hawkins’ offending.

“I want to pay tribute to the victim and her family who has been through an awful ordeal. They have displayed immense courage and dignity throughout.

“I hope today’s result brings some closure for them.”

A mum, who remains anonymous, has praised the police after her daughter's abuser was jailed.

She added: “We have been believed and I would say to anyone else who finds themselves in this position to go to the police and report it. You will be listened to and treated with respect.

“It feels like a black cloud has been lifted from over our heads and we can start to rebuild our lives.

“He was like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He appeared charming, friendly, and seemed so shy.

“But I know it was all an act and he is, in fact, a monster.

“We have got a life ahead of us and that is thanks to the justice Essex Police helped us achieve.

“The officer is our hero. I’m so thankful to him. He saved our lives.”

Record details

A convicted paedophile ordered to stay away from an ex partner phoned her nearly 250 times in a single day, and tried to get around his court order by sending her messages within bank transfers.

Robert Pratt would deposit nominal sums into her account, often just one pence, with an accompanying reference such as “ring me”.

The 31-year-old admitted breaching a non-molestation order and a restraining order and was jailed at Leeds Crown Court.

He also admitted failing to adhere to the sex offender register by failing to tell the police that he had been living at a shared property after being released from prison.

Pratt, of Manygates Lane, Wakefield, was jailed in 2016 for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. He was given the court orders last year to keep him away from his ex partner.

Prosecutor Carmel Pearson said that Pratt sent 31 WhatsApp messages to the woman in one day, and phones her 51 times.

The next day he tried to call 249 items and sent 72 WhatsApp messages.

Mitigating, Matthew Stewart said that Pratt accepted that jail was “inevitable”. He said he had no issues with drugs or alcohol.

He said that his father was ill and that Pratt had no contact with his own three children due to the nature of his convictions.

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar jailed Lumb for 18 months.

Record details

A Dunfermline takeaway boss who made indecent sexual remarks to two teenage girls has been put on the sex offenders register.

Eddie Yan Kin NG, 47, manager at Chinese restaurant Rice Delight in Linburn Road, told a 15-year-old she “could be naked” if she wanted and asked a 13-year-old to call him “Uncle Eddie”.

Record details

A postman from Sutton who took and shared an indecent photograph of a six-year-old child has avoided prison. 

Jamie Farley, 44, took a photo of a young child with their pants down then sent it to a person he believed to be a like-minded paedophile. 

But the person he was speaking to online was in fact an undercover police officer. 

When police seized Farley’s devices they found almost 1,000 indecent images of children. 

Farley appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Friday (October 11) after he pleaded guilty to voyeurism and three counts of making indecent images. 

Judge Matthew Boyle sentenced him to 28 weeks in custody but suspended the sentence for two years, meaning Farley walked out of the court a free man.  

Farley, of St James’ Road, is well-known in the local community and has served as a postman based in Putney for 22 years. 

Royal Mail told Newsquest London he had not made them aware of the offences but he has now been suspended. 

A spokesperson said: “Royal Mail always expects the highest standards from its staff and the behaviours reported have no place in our business. We were not informed of the charges and as soon as we were made aware he was suspended pending an internal investigation.” 

Summarising the case against Farley, prosecutor Ivan Clarke said the offences took place in May 2022 during an undercover investigation with the objective of identifying people who pose a risk to children. 

“An officer was effectively pretending to be an adult male who was interested in child images, and entered into at least two conversations with this defendant,” Mr Clarke said. 

Mr Clarke said Farley sent the undercover officer a photo of a partially-clothed child which he had taken himself, doing so for his own sexual gratification. 

In mitigation, Mark Kelly KC said his client is extremely remorseful and has taken steps to address the problem by attending a course with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Stop It Now. 

A probation report stated that Farley had become increasingly “obsessed” with internet porn and “started pushing boundaries” during the Covid period. 

Judge Boyle described the offences as “repugnant” and told Farley: “The downloading of images drives the demand for them, and the young people in those images at the end of the chain suffer as a result.” 

Sentencing Farley, Judge Boyle explained: “I have to say when I first read these papers, I thought it was pretty clear that appropriate punishment could only be achieved by immediate custody." 

But the judge said he was heartened by the fact that Farley has taken steps to address his offending since he was caught. 

He added that an experienced probation officer concluded that Farley’s risk could be managed in the community. 

“Therefore, somewhat to my surprise, I am by a hair’s breadth going to suspend the sentence in your case,” Judge Boyle said. 

He ordered that Farley carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation activity days. 

Judge Boyle also made him the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and he must sign the sex offender’s register for seven years. 

Record details

A WIRRAL man has appeared in court for the second time on charges of possessing hundreds of indecent images of children. 

Leslie Ward, 71, appeared for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday (October 11) after pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children and one charge of possession of indecent images of children.

David Watson, prosecuting, described how Merseyside Police acted on information that a "known sex offender" had been accessing indecent images of children from Ward's address at Clarendon Road, Wallasey. 

Ward's address was raided and police seized a HP Desktop device with external hard drive.

The device was examined and officers found 128 Category A images and seven Category A videos; 383 Category B images and 11 Category B videos and 139 Category C images and 11 Category C videos. 

Category A images are the most severe and can involve the sexual abuse of children.

At a police interview in November 2023, Ward told police that although his computer had been purchased new from Curry's he suspected it had been used before.

He also disputed he had a sexual interest in children saying he preferred "late teen boys".

In 2015, Ward was sent to prison for eight months and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order after he admitted possessing 2,690 indecent images and moving images of children – 100 of them in the most serious category.

David Birrell, defending, said Ward, who came into court using a walking stick and had issues hearing the proceedings, was retired but had worked in as an administrator in an office dealing with data input. 

Married for 44 years, Mr Birrell said Ward's wife was standing by him.

Mr Birrell also listed Ward's numerous health conditions, which includes Parkinson's disease. 

He said: "He (Ward) is not a risk to the public because he doesn't really go out and in his case there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. 

"He has a problem which is unlikely to go away without some help. Prison was tried and didn't work." 

Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC described the 650 images in Ward's possession as containing "appalling abuse of very young children."

"You knew full well what you were doing but you have very significant health problems that would make it difficult for you to serve a custodial term," he said.

Judge Menary handed Ward a 20 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered him to undertake 20 days of a rehabilitation activity, namely the Maps for Change programme. 

Ward will also pay costs of £1,630 and be the subject of a ten year sexual harm prevention order. 

Judge Menary added: "I wonder about that given your apparent persistence in downloading this material."

Record details

A man sexually assaulted a woman in her own home despite her repeatedly rejecting his advances.

Zak Honeyman, now 26, had known his victim for a while and was said to have fancied her, though his persistent pushes to enter into a relationship with the woman were politely declined.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the two bumped into each other at a party in November 2022.

Honeyman expressed an interest in her again at that moment, but she again declined.

Later that evening, the victim was walking home and noticed Honeyman was walking behind her.

After persistently asking if he could walk her home, she reluctantly agreed.

When at her house, she complained of a problem with the door which Honeyman said he could fix.

The victim went to make herself a cup of tea while he did so, and when she came back he asked where his drink was.

She explained that she didn’t make him one as she thought he would be leaving when the door was fixed, but did go back to make one and they sat in the living room together.

Alison Mather, prosecuting, said while there he continued to try and persuade her but she kept saying no and felt he was not getting the hint.

The victim then went upstairs to go to bed, and Honeyman followed behind her, getting into the bed fully clothed after saying he “might as well stay now”.

At one point he got up to take his trousers off and got back in, but put them back on when he was asked to leave.

Instead of leaving, he sat on the end of the bed and began to mess around with the bedside drawers.

She repeatedly told him not to and there was a tussle as she tried to stop him entering the draw which resulted in her receiving a bruise on her arm.

He eventually got into the drawer and pulled out a sex toy, which he prodded into the victim’s cheek multiple times and put into her mouth.

After this, he stood over the victim and pulled down her clothing before going on to sexually assault her twice.

In a statement read to the court by Ms Mather, the victim said she still takes medication for the anxiety and depression caused to her by what Honeyman did.

She said: “My anxiety has gone through the roof which made me not want to leave the house.”

Anna Chestnut, mitigating, said on Honeyman’s part there was a “lack of maturity at play” owing to his age at the time, 24.

She also said a term of immediate imprisonment would have a significant harmful impact on others.

Honeyman, of Weets View, Barnoldswick, had one previous conviction for a dissimilar matter which the judge did not take into consideration.

Recorder Daniel Lister, sentencing, said: “While I don’t consider that you forced your way in I do consider you certainly weren’t welcome to stay for as long as you did.

“You were given repeated hints but nevertheless you remained.

“She told you no, but you ignored her.”

Honeyman was jailed for 18 months and ordered to comply with notification requirements for 10 years.

A five-year restraining order was also imposed prohibiting contact with the victim.

Record details

A man who sexually assaulted a young girl he was asked to babysit has been jailed. Peter Hayes, 60, has been sentenced after admitting historic sex offences against the child.

After he attacked her, Hayes left 50p on her bedside table and said if she told anyone 'her family would separate from her'. The victim, who has anonymity for life, detailed the haunting impact the offences have had upon her life before Minshull Street Crown Court.

“Over the years I often worried about how great your life has been, and if you felt like you had a life sentence hanging over you like I did,” she began.

“I have been worried if you even thought about the crime against me and if you thought I would be strong enough to face you. Standing here, I have faced my demons all these years later for that little girl whose innocence and childhood you stole.

“The damage caused to me was never ending. You knew, and I knew, it was wrong. I know I am enough, and I am no longer haunted by the evil you left me with and that you now carry for the rest of your days.

“This was not a spur of the moment, this was premeditated. You knew what you were doing.”

She said her mother had never forgiven herself for what happened and her brothers who were also in the house at the time, had struggled to accept the offences.

“No sentence you will receive will ever make up for what I suffered at your hands. I doubt you will ever understand how what you did affected me.”

She said she had been left with anxiety, trauma and flashbacks. It was following a cancer diagnosis that she felt she was able to go forward with the prosecution.

“From this moment on I am looking forward and not backwards,” she said.

The court heard that on two separate occasions, Hayes, then in his 20s, had molested the girl whilst her parents had asked him to babysit.

“He then left 50p on her bedside table, and said if she told anyone her family would separate from her,” prosecutor Rob Hall said. “She felt she could not tell anybody for quite some time.”

The woman reported matters to the police years later. Hayes denied the offences but eventually pleaded guilty to indecency with a child and indecent assault on a child.

“He is bereft of the society of his family,” his barrister, Neil Ronan said. “This man is alone and has a plethora of medical issues. He has aged badly.

“This defendant has thought regularly of the behaviour and it has eaten him up inside. He had rang the police a number of times and hung up and the only reason he did that was cowardice and shame.

“He is a lonely, unhappy and broken man,” Mr Ronan added.

Sentencing, Judge Matthew Corbett-Jones said the offence and the threats made to the girl were ‘particularly unpleasant’.

“This happened where she should have felt safe and protected.”

Hayes, of Upper Chorlton Road, Stretford, was jailed for five years and four months. He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and must sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. Greater Manchester Police have not provided a custody image for Hayes.