Latest Offenders

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A Louth man who carried out a sex attack on a four-year-old while on bail for an assault on another young girl has been jailed for seven years at Lincoln Crown Court.

Richard Hunt, 31, of Virginia Drive, denied the offences but a jury took less than two hours to convict him following a trial.

Judge Simon Hirst, passing sentence, told Hunt: You were on bail for count one at the time you committed count two.

Plainly these offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be imposed.

Hunt denied two charges of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13. The charges related to separate incidents on February 5 and August 30 last year.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for life, and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Tony Stanford, prosecuting, said that Hunt sexually assaulted the seven-year-old when he indecently touched her.

Then, while on bail, he carried out a further serious sexual assault on the four year old.

The court was told that Hunt had twice previously been jailed for offences of robbery but had no previous convictions for any offence of a sexual nature.

Edna Leonard, representing Hunt, admitted that her client had behaved in an appalling way and told the court: There is little I can say in the way of mitigation.

She said that Hunt had been disowned by members of his own family after being charged with the offences and remanded in custody.

His father, his siblings, none of them have had anything to do with him. Since he has been in prison he has had no contact whatsoever with any of them.

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A hunt has been launched to find a missing sex offender who previously raped a teenage girl.

Christopher Clarke is wanted by police for breaching his sex offender’s notification requirements.

The 38-year-old is on the sex offender’s register after the rape and sexual assault of a girl, aged under 16, in 1997.

Officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in Southampton to locate him and are now asking the public for help in finding him.

He is described as white, 5 ft 9 in, brown hair and may have facial hair.

Detective Inspector Howard Broadribb said: “We believe that Clarke is most likely to be in the Southampton area.

“We have not been able to locate him since he failed to report at a police station as part of his requirements as a registered sex offender.

“We have been carrying out a number of enquiries to locate him and are now asking the public for assistance in finding him.

“If you have seen him or know where he is, please call us immediately.”

Clarke has previously been hunted by police for a similar offence.

In June 2018, he appeared among a Hampshire’s Most Wanted list, put together by charity Crimestoppers.

An appeal was also launched for Clarke in December 2004 after an alleged assault earlier that year.

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A HIGH risk sex offender who indecently assaulted a three-year-old girl in a supermarket has been spared jail despite repeatedly flouting court orders imposed to protect children.

Keith Holloway of Worcester thrust his exposed genitals against the girl, filmed under the skirts of young women and offered a girl of eight an ice pop, telling her she was 'beautiful' and inviting her to use his new shower.

But the 65-year-old was not sent to jail by Judge Nicholas Cole at Worcester Crown Court because the most recent breach of his sexual harm prevention order was deemed too 'minor' and because his defence barrister argued that prison would be 'crushing'.

It is the fourth time Holloway has breached the same order since it was imposed in September 15, 2017. Three breaches involved his possession of devices (phone or laptop) with cameras and the most serious involved the befriending of a child (the eight-year-old girl).

Holloway, of Back Lane South, Barbourne, failed to tell his offender manager he had bought a new mobile phone fitted with a camera and was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday.

Although he is permitted to have a mobile phone he did not inform his offender manager he had bought a new one after breaking the old one by dropping it into a sink full of water.

Holloway, who walked with a stick, lowered his head in the dock, covered his face with his hands and at one stage dabbed his eyes with a tissue.

The mobile phone was discovered during an unannounced visit to his home on July 5 last year by his offender manager. He bought it in Argos on June 13 that year.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, described the defendant's previous convictions.

The first dates back to 1984 for sending an obscene article in the post.

Holloway was jailed for 51 months on February 7, 2003 for indecent assault on a female under 16. Mr Aspinall said Holloway had approached a three-year-old girl in the corner of a supermarket and began 'thrusting his pelvis' into her.

"He was grabbed by the mother. His penis was exposed. Being confronted he began crying and saying he shouldn't have done it," said Mr Aspinall.

On that occasion Holloway was detained until police arrived to arrest him.

He received a sentence of nine months in prison suspended for two years for outraging public decency on October 15, 2007 after he used the camera on his mobile phone to photograph young women under their skirts.

"They were unaware of his activity but a passing member of the public reported it to police," said Mr Aspinall.

Holloway was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years but breached that on December 14, 2016 when police discovered during a routine visit that the defendant had a tablet which had a camera facility.

He was fined for this offence on August 24, 2017. As a result of a further breach Holloway was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order which was due to last until October 15, 2027.

When Holloway was visited again by police they found he had a mobile phone with video and camera facility in his hallway which led to a seven month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months on March 6, 2018.

He also befriended a girl of eight, giving her 2 to buy some sweets and also gave her ice pops, telling the girl's mother her daughter was 'beautiful' and inviting her and her daughter to use his newly installed shower unit, Mr Aspinall told the court. Holloway told police he did not think it was a breach of the order because the girl's mother was present. Mr Aspinall described the breaches as 'persistent'.

Jamie Scott, defending, said his client had provided medical evidence that he had been discharged from hospital after a fall, had heart palpitations, suffered from low potassium levels and was on 17 different forms of medication.

Mr Scott described possession of the phone as 'a relatively minor breach' and that it did not represent an escalation of matters.

He said: "It's a breach I hope can be characterised as an honest mistake. I ask for full credit for his guilty plea.

"It's plain immediate custody would have a crushing effect on someone who is obviously a frail and unwell man."

He argued that Holloway's accommodation was 'a stabilising force' in his life and that he would stand to lose that if he was jailed, a view shared by the probation liaison officer.

His offender manager advised the judge that Holloway was managed as 'a high risk'.

Judge Cole said Holloway had 'a history of disobedience to court orders' but this latest breach was 'minor' and that, because of the defendant's health issues, it would be 'unjust' to activate the suspended sentence.

Judge Cole sentenced him to a 12-month community order with up to 20 rehabilitation activity days. He imposed a fine of 1,000 and ordered him to pay 350 costs. Both must be discharged within 28 days.

Description

A man from Eastleigh sourced indecent images and videos of children from an internet chat room, a court heard.

Zach Mockford used a registration-free chat site to search for people to send him images, some showing children as young as four being sexually abused.

When police caught wind of his activities, they searched his laptop and found more than 200 videos and hundreds of illegal images, as well as more than 50 bestiality videos showing humans engaging in sexual activity with various animals

Prosecuting, Simon Wiltshire told Southampton Crown Court that police visited Mockford at his address in Cranbury Road, Eastleigh.

They checked the 24-year-olds laptop and found 222 videos, almost half of which were the most serious, category-A images.

Police also found more than 100 still indecent images as well as 103 images of bestiality, both moving and still.

Mockford pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images and one of making extreme images related to the bestiality images.

He was given a suspended sentence by Judge Gary Burrell, who said: You now know that these are real children being abused in real life.

"Some of the videos show children as young as four being abused.

They must have been suffering both physically and mentally."

Mockfords nine-month sentence was suspended for two years.

He was also given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and will be made to sign the sex offenders register, which he will be on for the next ten years.

Description

A TAUNTON man supplied four teenage girls with drugs before sexually exploiting them, a court has heard.

Austin Stuart Taylor, 21, has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty of multiple child sex offences at addresses in Minehead, Taunton and Wellington.

He was convicted of 15 offences against his victims, who were aged 13 to 17, between 2015 and 2017.

Stuart-Taylor admitted two counts of supplying Class A drugs and one of supplying a Class B drug at the start of his trial at Bristol Crown Court.

The jury found him guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child; one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; three of possessing indecent images of children; one of offering to supply a Class A drug; three of offering to supply a Class B drug; and one of permitting a premises to be used for smoking cannabis. He had denied those 12 charges.

In addition to his jail sentence, he was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a 10-year restraining order against his victims. He will be on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.

The court heard neighbours would often see girls in school uniform arriving at the properties occupied by Stuart-Taylor, who provided them with drugs such as cannabis, ketamine and MDMA.

The jury was told sexual images and moving video footage of children as young as three-years-old were found on Stuart-Taylors computer.

An examination of his phone also found a substantial number of photos of his genitalia, some of which were sent to his victims in an effort to groom them. He also repeatedly asked his victims to take indecent pictures of themselves and send them to him.

Investigating officer Det Sgt Phillip Clarke said: "Austin Stuart-Taylor is a manipulative individual who plied young girls with drugs in order to gain influence over them and abuse them.

"Its clear he has a disturbing interest in young girls from the images found on his electronic devices.

"His actions were deliberate and calculated and there is absolutely no doubt he knew how old his victims were when he engaged in sexual activity with them.

"Together with Barnardo's Against Sexual Exploitation (BASE), support has been provided to all the girls through what has been a lengthy criminal justice process and I hope now that Stuart-Taylor has been handed a substantial prison term they can move on with their lives."

At today's hearing, the judge awarded commendations to DS Clarke, DC Paul Moares and investigations support officer Alan Chambers for their work on this investigation. The judge also awarded a commendation to Kate Chisnall from BASE.

Since June last year, police have introduced a partnership approach to tackling child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Somerset which sees agencies share intelligence to investigative reports, catch offenders and support victims.

Operation Topaz, which was initially launched as pilot in Bristol in January 2017, allows officers to identify offending at an earlier stage.

Force lead for (CSE) Detective Chief Inspector Liz Hughes said: "With the introduction of Operation Topaz in Somerset we are now better equipped than ever to protect children and young people from sexual exploitation.

"The unique approach of Topaz allows us to identify offences early and, at times, offending which may not have ever come light at all. The partnership working also increases our ability to build relationships with those affected by abuse and provide them with support.

"By working together and sharing information we can help inform, educate and prevent this form of child sexual abuse from happening. But we and our partners can only do so much though and we still need the publics help.

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."

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A NAKED student who indecently exposed himself to dozens of women for sexual thrills has heard how his perverted behaviour was “creepy” and “disturbing”.

Ali Hassan, 18, was caught by police after finding a till receipt and an empty packet of Haribo sweets he had discarded along a secluded riverside path he frequented to startle his victims.

The teenager, of Musgrave Gardens, Durham, would wear just his running shoes to run alongside women jogging next to the River Wear after spying on them from bushes.

Between April and June last year, Hassan exposed himself to a number of women of various ages who were running near the Durham Rowing Club and Maiden Castle sports complex.

Hassan was arrested after police officers used the empty sweet packet and till receipt to pinpoint the shop and date they were purchased, ultimately leading them to identify the pervert via CCTV.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of exposure before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday.

Emma Shea, prosecuting, read several victim impact statements to the court, with many witnesses echoing how they found Hassan’s behaviour “shocking” and “concerning”.

One statement read: “I was quite shocked especially since media reports came out that this is not a one-off incident – it makes it more creepy.” 

Another reported: “I’ve not returned to the area to run as a result of this incident. I’ve never seen anything like what I saw that day. I’m scared to be in that area and when I walked nearby recently, I felt on edge. It’s disturbing.”

The court heard that Hassan’s family were also shocked by his behaviour, but remain supportive.

Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said: “There are elements of naivety and immaturity in so far as his sexual relationships and relationships with women are concerned.

“He does come across as a very young 18-year-old. He no previous convictions, not so much as a caution, so this is very much out of character.”

Mr Andrews added that there was no suggestion that Hassan performed sex acts in front of the joggers he targeted and would not make comments or threaten them. 

The full-time student was given a 24-month community order and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for five years. He has also been banned from being within five metres of the edge of the River Wear in Durham and must wear at least one item of clothing over his underwear in public.

He must pay £85 court costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Speaking the Northern Echo after the sentence had been passed Hassan said: "I would like to apologise for my foolish behaviour.

"I am guilty of this and take full responsibility. It was nothing but stupid and immature.

"I really regret what I’ve done and that’s not an excuse all.

"It was a mistake and I really just want to get on with my life after I serve my punishment

"I’m getting the help I need." 

Description

A sex offender who raided a pubs cellar to escape with booze worth 2,000 was caught after the landlord posted CCTV pictures on Facebook.

Alex Clough, aged 26, has been jailed for sneaking down the stairs of the Stoke Inn six times to grab spirits, cider and wine.

Clough also spat in the face of a police officer and failed to tell the authorities where he was living, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

He was locked up aged just 14 for attempted rape and robbery in 2007.

But Clough was caught after the burglary when landlord Steve Bowen posted a CCTV picture on Facebook.

Mr Bowen said today: Justice has been done.

He has used the crime to launch an appeal which has raised 200 for homelessness charity Shekinah.

Clough, recently living in Plymouth, pleaded guilty to burglary on December 15.

He also admitted assaulting a police officer in Andover on October 20.

Clough, also known as Sanders, pleaded guilty to failing to register his address with the authorities in that Hampshire town.

Jailing him for a total of seven months, Judge Paul Darlow said: You behaved in a repulsive manner. You then made all the right noises to probation and said you were going to turn your life around.

You show how much you regret your behaviour by going on to burgle the public house.

Judith Constable, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Mr Bowen noticed the door to the stock room was unlocked following a busy Friday night.

She said he spotted that some of his shelves had been cleaned out.

Miss Constable added that an intruder had taken 21 bottles of spirits, including Smirnoff vodka, Gordons gin, and a box of wine and a box of cider.

The barrister added that CCTV showed a man going up and down the stairs six times to steal the alcohol.

Miss Constable said Mr Bowen posted the image on the pubs Facebook page and Clough was recognised by his parents.

The court heard he handed himself in to police.

Katie Churcher, for Clough, said he had mental health problems and had taken an overdose to end his life.

She added that he had stolen from the pub to try and repay a debt.

Miss Churcher said that he had just started a job doing paving and driveways.

Clough was sent into custody for five years in 2007 for robbing youths in the street. He also pushed a 14-year-old girl into an alley and tried to rape her.

Mr Bowen said after the latest case that he thought justice had been done.

The landlord posted on the pubs page that he loathed and despised Clough.

He added: He was just so brazen. It suggests he is never going to learn.

Mr Bowen said that he had to cancel the staffs Christmas party because of the burglary.

The landlord posted once Clough had been identified: You have robbed me of my Christmas.

He added: We will have a staff party but it is obviously a lot later and it wont be such a grand affair.

Mr Bowen said the pub had raised 200 for Shekinah to help people in need.

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A paedophile has been jailed after arranging to meet up with a teenage girl at a service station.

But Daniel Salisbury's victim was actually a police officer and when the 31-year-old turned up at Cobham Services on November 16 officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit pounced.

The 31-year, of Rotary Gardens, Gillingham, was found guilty of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence at Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday.

He was also found to be in breach of a sexual harm prevention order and was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment to run concurrently.

That order had been imposed after he was found in possession of indecent images of children in 2014.

Salisbury was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and was subject to a further sexual harm prevention order to run in line with his registration period.

SEROCU's detective Inspector Emily Evans said: This investigation forms part of our continued priority to protect children from sexual exploitation from those who seek to do them harm.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences Daniel Salisbury had attempted to commit.

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A KENDAL man is due be sentenced by a judge next month after he admitted making hundreds of indecent images of children.

Robert James Lewthwaite, 24, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court earlier today (FRI).

Lewthwaite pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children between early July, 2017, and May 7 last year. The court heard the charges covered 66 images classed in category A the most serious; 146 in category B; and 639 with a category C classification.

In addition, Lewthwaite, of Low Kirkbarrow Lane, Kendal, admitted taking an indecent category A photograph of a child a video depicting a sexual act on July 5 of 2017.

David Traynor, defending, said in a brief address to Judge Peter Davies: He is 24 years of age, has no previous convictions and I would ask for you to adjourn for a pre-sentence report.

Judge Davies agreed. Lewthwaite was granted bail and is due to return to the crown court in early February for a sentencing hearing in front of Judge James Adkin.

Just because I am bailing you it doesnt mean the sort of sentence you will get thats up to James Adkin, said Judge Davies.

Description

A child rapist has been handed a 14-year prison sentence.

Simon Peter Turnbull, 44, received his punishment at Carlisle Crown Court today for crimes committed last year against a victim aged under 13.

At a previous hearing, Turnbull, of Fairhill Road, Penrith, had admitted one child rape and a second "multiple incident" charge.

Prosecutor Tim Evans told the court Turnbull's victim was so upset during a police interview that they could not speak at times, having to write things down in a notebook. The child did say of Turnbull: "I hate him."

When arrested, Turnbull initially reacted by saying: "What, really?" He later admitted raping the child multiple times when quizzed by police for a second time, but was said by a probation officer to have shown an "alarming lack of victim empathy".

Shaven-headed Turnbull showed little emotion while sitting, arms folded, in the court dock as facts of his offending were outlined to Judge Peter Davies.

A number of deeply moving impact statements were read to court which detailed the profound effects on the victim's family.

Jailing Turnbull, a man with no previous convictions, Judge Davies said he was guilty of a "persistent course of conduct committed for your own sexual gratification". This had, the judge observed, "left a wake of devastation".

Turnbull must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely, and abide by the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

He must serve at least half of the 14-year term in custody, and will only be considered for release when a parole board deems him suitable.

Description

Paedophile Allen Wilton has been jailed for 16 months for breaching his Sex Offenders Register requirements.

The 49-year-old, of St Johns Wood Road in Ryde, was required by law to register any names or profiles he created online.

Police discovered that he had been using the name ‘falcon1’ on an encrypted chat app called Wickr Me, but failed to notify the authorities of this, Isle of Wight Crown Court heard.

The court heard that he was arrested at his home address on 2 October this year, and refused to hand over his password for the app to police.

Today (1 November) he was sentenced to 16 months in prison at the same court.

PC Michelle Walton said: “Wilton is a repeat child sex offender with a history dating back to 2002.

“He had absolutely no regard for what he was required to do, by law, so we could ensure that he would not continue to offend and that children were protected.

“We simply do not tolerate this, and I am pleased that today’s jail sentence reflects this.”

Description

A "MANIPULATIVE" sex offender who targeted a 13-year-old girl has been jailed for seven years.

Stuart Penny, of Pinewood Close in Salisbury, admitted a string of sex offences that took place between December 2015 and April 2016, and was jailed for seven years and two months at Salisbury Crown Court in December.

The 52-year-old's victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 13 at the time.

Detective Constable Jackie Allen, from Salisbury CID, said: I would like to pay tribute to the young victim in this case who has shown immense bravery in speaking to police about the abuse she suffered.

Penny is a manipulative sex offender who groomed his victim and initially denied the offences, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Here at Wiltshire Police we are committed to bringing these types of offenders to justice, and I would urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse to come forward and speak to us about what has happened to you.

Penny pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, inciting a child aged between 13 and 15 to view images of sexual activity, inciting a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity and possession of extreme pornographic images.

Description

A teenager who was groomed and raped in a series of ‘appalling’ assaults watched as her abuser was jailed and said: ‘He is a monster’.

Perverted Jamie Williams looked blank-faced as he was handed a 13-year jail term for repeated sexual assaults and two rapes on the young girl.

Williams, 32 of Inverness Road, Buckland, was convicted of four charges of sexual assault, two more serious sexual assaults and two rapes.

Sentencing, judge Roger Hetherington said: ‘These were appalling offences which were the result of a degree of planning on your part.’

He added: ‘With any young girl it would have had a very traumatic effect and unsurprisingly that’s precisely what has happened in this case.’

Probation found Williams poses a high risk of serious harm to children but the judge stopped short of ruling he was dangerous, which could have led to Williams receiving an extended sentence.

The girl, who cannot be named, told of her frustration at having to wait for a third trial for justice to be done after the first jury was dismissed and a second trial date was abandoned as medical evidence was compiled.

Bravely she watched from the public gallery at Portsmouth Crown Court as 32-year-old Williams was sentenced over video-link

In a statement read out by prosecutor Matthew Lawson, the girl said: ‘I was just a little girl. I hope I can get my life back.

‘I will not let what he has done to me stop me from being successful.’

She added: ‘I think that he is a monster – I’m so relieved that he was found guilty.’

In a statement, her family said: ‘Our lives changed forever and after nearly two hellish years we are still putting the pieces back together.

‘We hope January next year will be a new beginning for all of us and we can’t thank enough all those involved in bringing the case to trial and getting justice.’

‘On occasions I thought he was going to get away with this,’ she said.

Forensic medical evidence agreed by the prosecution and defence revealed the pain the victim suffered.

After telling police about the attacks she once saw into Williams in the street. ‘I was left physically shaking and crying,’ her statement said.

The defendant had applied ‘subtle pressure’ in trying to stop the girl from reporting the attacks to police, the court heard.

Williams was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life. He denied all charges.

Description

A pervert who abducted a teenage girl and had sex with her at a bed and breakfast has been jailed for just over five years.

A judge said Jessie Hilden had targeted a vulnerable child and groomed her for his sexual gratification.

Despite admitting his guilt, the 30-year-old “displayed a disturbing lack of insight” into the realities of his behaviour and implications.

“There is no sign of any genuine remorse,” said Judge David Griffith-Jones QC. “A sentence of some length is demanded. Nothing less will do.”

Hilden, of Caravan Site, Windmill Lane West, West Malling, admitted abducting a child, two offences of sexual activity with a child and perverting the course of justice.

Maidstone Crown Court heard on Tuesday the victim was aged 14 when Hilden preyed on her.

She had gone into foster care because there was a high risk of child sex exploitation.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said the girl was close to her 15th birthday when she failed to return to her care home and was reported missing.

Efforts were made to find her. She was believed to be at a hotel in Maidstone with Hilden.

It was revealed that he had taken her to the bed and breakfast, bought her alcohol and had intercourse with her without using protection. It included an unnatural act which caused her pain.

When police spotted Hilden later in Knightrider Street in Maidstone, he said he claimed he had not see the girl and did not know her.

"He took advantage of me. I was young and stupid..." - victim

But CCTV footage from the B&B confirmed they were there together. When arrested in May, Hilden denied having an inappropriate relationship with the teenager.

He was released on bail with a condition not to contact her but there were telephone calls between them in which he urged her to delete everything from her phone and go to the “gavvers” (police) and lie.

Miss Todd said Hilden had 19 previous convictions for 30 offences, mainly for dishonesty.

The victim said in a statement that she “felt disgusted” about what happened. “It makes me feel dirty,” she continued.

"He took advantage of me. I was young and stupid.

“I had issues at home and that made me vulnerable. He gave me money and things, which was exciting. Now I know he was lying.

“I struggle to sleep. I get bad dreams – nightmares and flashbacks about what he did to me. It has knocked my confidence. It messed up my GCSEs, messed up everything.”

She added: “I hate him for what he has done.”

Passing sentence, Judge Griffith-Jones said: “She was a troubled young girl and vulnerable. You began to curry her friendship. You groomed her, promising her things.

“You said you would take her on holidays and eventually marry her. You sought to alienate her from her family.”

It was clear Hilden, who had a troubled upbringing and turned to drugs and alcohol, preyed on the girl’s immaturity and vulnerability from the outset.

“She had been taken in and beguiled by you,” he continued. “You lied to her. You took advantage of her in order to use her for you own sexual gratification.

“The psychological damage your actions will have inflicted on her can only be imagined. Her victim statement describes her emotional turmoil and upset.”

The judge said there was considerable aggravation in the disparity in ages.

“I hope you will address your deviant thinking and behaviour,” he added.

He was jailed for a total of five years and two months – four years and eight months for the sex offences, 15 months concurrent for child abduction and six months consecutive for perverting the course of justice.

His name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. He will be barred from working with children and a sexual harm prevention order was made.