Latest Offenders

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Paedophile coaxed girl aged 13 to sneak out of her house and have sex with him.

Brett Rudkin, 20, asked the girl to send naked pictures of herself to him and encouraged her to come to his house late at night.

A man who "coaxed" a 13-year-old girl to sneak out of her house while her parents slept to have sex with him has been jailed.

Brett Rudkin, 20, had asked the 13-year-old girl to send naked pictures of herself to him and encouraged her to come to his house late at night.

However, just five minutes after they had sex, Rudkin callously brushed her aside and said he was "disgusted" with what had happened.

The incident had a "massive effect" on the youngster, who was so distressed she was forced to change schools, stopped eating and began to lose weight.

Jailing Rudkin in a young offenders' institution for two years and four months, Judge David Tremberg said he had "coaxed" his victim into having full sex with him.

He said: "She went because she trusted you. You effectively groomed her.

"You knew from first to last what you were doing was against the law.

"You used her to satisfy your sexual urges and, when you had got what you wanted, she had served her purpose.

"You told her that you did not want anything else to do with her and the complainant has been deeply emotionally affected by the fallout from this.

"You risked causing infection or pregnancy. She was only 13.

"This was a deliberate course of conduct followed by attempts by you to keep her quiet.

"You groomed her and you courted images of her."

Prosecuting, Philip Standfast told Grimbsy Crown Court Rudkin and his victim began exchanging messages on social media apps including Facebook and Snapchat.

They began "sharing each other's secrets" and Rudkin pretended his was 17, despite being 18 at the time.

He told her he liked her and sent an intimate picture of his private parts before asking for naked pictures of her breasts.

She sent three or four showing cleavage while wearing a vest.

Mr Standfast said: "The girl's parents were asleep in bed when Rudkin sent a message asking if she wanted to go to his house.

"Without her parents' knowledge, she left home, met the defendant and went to his house about midnight.

"Rudkin started taking her clothes off, kissing her and they had sex with no protection."

The girl left but just minutes later she received a message from Rudkin that said he was "disgusted" with what he had done and asked her not to tell anyone.

Mr Standfast said: "She felt she had been used."

The girl was left upset by the incident that had a "massive effect" on her life and she began to lose weight and had to change school and move out of the family home.

Speaking in mitigation, defence barrister Alison Dorrell said that Rudkin, who admitted two offences of sexual activity with a child, had avoided further damage to the young teen by not "seeking to brazen the matter out at trial".

She said: "He knew quite quickly after he did this that he had done wrong, although there was an element of self-protection.

He had no previous convictions and had lost his good character in "quite spectacular fashion."

Rudkin was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

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A FATHER downloaded indecent images of children less than a month after admitting the same offence, a court heard.

Sukhdev Sandhu had been sentenced to attend a course for sex offenders after pleading guilty to his first offence on January 28, 2010.

But he was discovered to have accessed more images on February 20 that year.

However he has walked free from court after arguing that the second offence took place before he had been on a rehabilitation course that had stopped him re-offending since.

Siobhan Lindsey, prosecuting, told Southampton Crown Court how Sandhu was caught when offender managers visiting his Southampton home became suspicious and seized his laptop computer on July 23, 2014.

Experts found 32 indecent images of children in the computer records, two of which fell into the most serious category, as well as five extreme pornographic images depicting bestiality and violent sexual acts.

The youngest child identified was thought aged eight to 10 years old.

Investigators also found an external hard drive had been used to download and store the images but this was never recovered.

There was also a search term on the computer commonly used when searching for indecent images.

Sandhu was arrested and eight further indecent images of children were found on his mobile phone along with another three extreme pornographic images.

Miss Linsley said she had no evidence of when these were put on.

The court was told that Sandhu said the pictures were downloaded after his conviction but before he started his sex offender program and he had stopped once he completed that course.

Sandhu, 50, of Selborne Walk, Bitterne, admitted six counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

David Reid, mitigating, said such behaviour was often compulsive or addictive and Sandhu had not then yet been given strategies to help him avoid temptation. The fact that he offended so soon after was “maybe his best mitigation”, Mr Reid added.

He said there had been no offences in the four and a half years since he was sentenced for 18 charges of making indecent images.

The court heard how Sandhu had then lost his job and due to these new offences his wife had now lost hers as a school teaching assistant, making it unlikely they could fund their son’s first year at university.

But Sandhu hopes to return to Malaysia short-term to work for his brother, allowing his wife to return to work and their income to fund their son’s education.

Judge Peter Henry said the images were “appalling” and this was not a “victimless crime” as children had been abused.

He said he could not be sure that Sandhu had continued looking at these images after his treatment and that sending him to prison might undo that work.

Sandhu was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years with an 18-month supervision requirement.

He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, put on the sex offender register for 10 years and his mobile phone and laptop will be destroyed.

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Aaron Langley, Imperial Road, Gillingham jailed after downloading thousands of indecent images of children

A pervert who downloaded thousands of images of children as young as two has been jailed.

Aaron Langley stockpiled more than 18,500 pictures and movie clips showing young children - one as young as two or three - in depraved acts with adults.

The 32-year-old, of Imperial Road, Gillingham, was jailed him for 16 months.

Prosecutor Ian Foinette said Langley, who was convicted of indecent assault as a juvenile, was arrested at his home on January 9 last year.

The images found covered all levels of seriousness.

“Not all could be looked at by police because of the sheer volume,” said Mr Foinette. “The charges relate to examples. He indicated he had a sexual interest in boys aged 10 to 17.

“He indicated he had been viewing them for some time. He kept them stored. He said his preference was for boys and was interested in what was being done to them.”

James Ross, defending, said Langley, who admitted 15 charges of possessing indecent images of children, only came into physical contact with a child when convicted of indecently assaulting a boy in 2001.

“He downloaded such large amounts of the images he couldn’t conceivably get around to looking at them all,” said Mr Ross. “He looked at them as and when.” Mr Ross submitted Langley needed sex offender treatment and counselling with psychiatric intervention.

“He comes from a supportive family,” said Mr Ross. “His mother is absolutely shocked by this. He does seek help and treatment. He would follow any course and change his personality.”

Judge Charles Macdonald QC told Langley: “This is quite a bad case. There are many aggravating features. You shared the images with others with a like interest.”

Langley’s name will appear on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and he will be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

DC Jo-anne Gordon, investigating officer for the case, said: "This case serves as a reminder that Kent Police fully investigates all reports of people using the internet to view and distribute indecent images of children.

"In this case Langley accumulated a huge amount of indecent images and videos which showed children being subjected to horrific abuse.

"I hope he spends his time in prison reflecting upon the impact the material he was viewing has on the victims who will have to deal with the psychological affects of this for the rest of their lives."

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Derby Crown Court heard on Monday, January 11, how Robert Stringer, 61, of Byron Street, Buxton, admitted possessing 650 indecent images, an indecent movie and an indecent photo of a different category and he also breached an order banning him from using mobiles with internet.

Prosecuting barrister Abi Joyce said: Stringer was convicted in March, 2009, for possession of indecent photos and he got a 12 month prison sentence and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

The order included banning him from the possession of any computer with a facility of displaying images.

On May 11, 2012, he was found guilty of breaching the Sexual Offender Prevention Order by being in possession of a computer and he received a community order.

The conditions of the SOPO were varied to prohibit him from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless it had the capacity to retain internet history.

Stringer was subject to checks and in January, 2013, he was found guilty of making photos of children and received a three-year community order.

Despite Stringers previous convictions, Miss Joyce explained how Stringers offender manager became aware of information that he had a mobile phone in August, 2015, and he was seen using it while driving and it was identified.

The court heard how police attended Stringers address and he failed to declare the phone but officers identified the make of phone, called it successfully and established it had an internet plan.

The defendant told police he committed the latest offences because he was annoyed at the accusations and thought he might as well do it and as he looked at adult porn sites they would piggy-back to teen sites with 14 to 18-year-olds.

He stated to police that he felt guilty because he has daughters but he denied being sexually attracted to children.

Stringer pleaded guilty to breaching a SOPO by possessing a mobile with internet between October, 2013 and September, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to possessing an indecent photo of a child and an indecent movie and 650 indecent images between June and September, 2015.

Defence barrister James Riley urged the court to consider a suspended prison sentence to allow Stringer to work with probation and police to overcome problems.

But Judge Jonathan Bennett sentenced Stringer to 12 months of custody.

He told the defendant: You demonstrated calculated defiance and your case is aggravated by previous convictions.

You have made little progress and you didnt recognise that you have a significant problem.

Custody is appropriate because of your calculated defiance and you have had two community orders and you made no progress and you have carried on offending.

The court heard how the movie and images included youngsters aged around 13 and 14 to 16.

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Alan Scollay had previously admitted a string of offences involving two primary school age girls.

The 58-year-old had been warned the case was so serious it may be referred to the High Court but appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court for sentence yesterday.

Scollay admitted targeting one girl between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1999, at two addresses in Shetland.

He used a video camera to film some of the abuse and forced his victim to watch adult pornography with him.

She only came forward because she feared he would abuse other people in the future.

The court also heard that Scollay, of 33 Grodians, Lerwick, abused a second girl between October 1, 1982, and February 7, 1983, at a separate address.

His agent, solicitor Tommy Allan, admitted he had no mitigation to offer as there was no excuse for Scollays actions.

The lawyer did say his client had a willingness to deal with his attitudes to that sort of behaviour and was prepared to tackle his issues.

He added that the offences had caused Scollay a great deal of guilt and that he acknowledged he had hurt his victims very badly.

Sheriff Philip Mann said the offences were of the utmost seriousness and had caused the two victims to suffer greatly.

He sentenced Scollay to four years in jail for the offences carried out in the 1990s.

The sheriff also jailed Scollay for one year for the abuse that took place in the 1980s.

The sentences will run consecutively.

The sheriff also gave Scollay an extended sentence of five years to enable him to take advantage of any support available to him after his release.

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AN immature young farmer is starting a six-year prison sentence following his conviction for the rape and sexual assault of a woman.

Durham Crown Court was told that Karl Richard Gibson, then 19, committed the acts, despite the victims protests.

The court heard that Gibson protested his innocence on his arrest, last year, and throughout his trial, in late October.

Despite still maintaining he has been subject to a miscarriage of justice, the custodial term of five years was imposed for rape, with an added 12-months for one of two sexual assaults for which Gibson was also convicted, when he appeared back at the court, via video link from nearby Durham Prison, at todays (Wednesday December 23) sentencing hearing.

David Brooke, prosecuting, read from the victims impact statement in which she said she was left feeling, worthless, and for some time since the incidents she has suffered anxiety attacks and had flashbacks to what took place.

Mr Brooke said the woman has since self-harmed and sought psychiatric treatment.

But Paul Reid, for Gibson, said the defendant and his family, utterly reject her comments in the statement.

Mr Reid claimed that to lay the blame for her psychiatric difficulties, at the defendants door, was, completely unjustified.

He was 19 at the time, and is now 20.

Were he a couple of years younger, it would be dealt with under far different sentencing guidelines.

Although hes now 20, hes only a boy, and spends his time farming up on the fells with his cows.

This is one of the most tragic cases I have been involved with, in quarter of a century doing sex cases.

Following his conviction his family were in hysterics and couldnt understand what was happening when he was taken to the cells in shackles, being searched, documented and taken off to Durham Prison.

Mr Reid urged Recorder Tim Roberts to pass the least sentence possible, according to the guidelines.

But, Recorder Roberts said: These offences were, indeed, borne out of immaturity, lack of thought, and inability to think things through in a considered manner.

He made Gibson the subject of a ten-year restraining order, forbidding him trying to contact the woman.

Gibson, of Marshes Gill Farm, Harwood-in-Teesdale, County Durham, will also be subject to registration as a sex offender indefinitely.

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A MAN from Basingstoke has been jailed for more than seven years after being found guilty of raping a woman.

Samuel Tweddle, 23, of Kings Road, Basingstoke, received a sentence of seven years and six months in prison on Thursday, December 17 at Winchester Crown Court.

A jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on the five counts that Tweddle had denied, which included a single count of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one of witness intimidation.

The offence took place in the early hours of Sunday, July 5 this year in a car on the Houndmills industrial estate in Basingstoke.

The victim reported the offence that day and was supported by specialised officers.

DNA evidence was taken and used to convict Tweddle.

Speaking after the sentence, Detective Constable Craig Ferguson, of Basingstoke CID, said: This was a vicious and predatory attack.

Sexual offences are treated very seriously by Hampshire Constabulary and we will investigate, charge and convict criminals responsible for such offending.

The victim has shown great courage throughout this process and I hope that she can now move on from this terrible ordeal.

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A MANIPULATIVE sexual predator raped a young girl whose mother he had met through a dating website and threatened to kill her familys dog if she told anyone.

In what a judge described as the grossest breach of trust, the man, who cannot be named to protect the identities of his victims, also sexually abused the girls two sisters.

The 47-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to raping the girl when she was 14 or 15 and a number of offences of sexual assault.

He was given an extended prison sentence of nine years in jail, of which he will have to serve at least two-thirds, after which he will be released on licence for the rest of the term and for an additional three years.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and banned from entering Rugby for 15 years.

Prosecutor John Hallissey said a relationship developed after the girls mother met the man through a dating website.

But after they moved in together there were intermittent disclosures by the girl to a friend, and the matter was reported to school staff, only for her to withdraw what she said.

When she was 13 she made a further disclosure at school, asking for her abuser to be present with a view to confronting him, but withdrew her complaint when her mother turned up as well.

But eventually the police became involved and she took part in a video-recorded interview in which she described how she had been systematically abused after the defendant had moved in.

On a number of occasions he walked in on her when she was in the bath or the shower and touched her inappropriately, after which he would be apologetic.

But on one occasion when she was 13 or 14 he called her into his bedroom and pushed her down onto the bed, and when she tried to get up, he pushed her back down and put a pillow over her face, telling her to shut up or he would hurt her.

Her abuser had told her that whenever he acted in that way he tried to imagine she was his real daughter so that he would stop, but that a red mist descended over him.

But he ignored her desperate attempts to tell him she was his daughter and that he could fight the red mist, and performed a sex act on her before calming down and apologising.

Sometimes after he abused her, he would cry and she found herself in the strange situation of having to comfort him.

He also subjected her to threats when she did something wrong, telling her he would tell her mother unless she was his for a period of time.

On another occasion he followed her into the bathroom, ordered her to take off her clothes and then to perform a sex act on him, but she refused.

Then on a day when she was off school sick, she woke up with him lying next to her and touching her.

The girl told him to get off, but he told her if she did not comply he would hurt her mother or kill the dog.

She tried to get away but he pulled her back and raped her.

Mr Hallissey said that after the girl came forward, her sisters also revealed the defendant had inappropriately touched them when they were 13 or 14.

Graeme Simpson, defending, said: He has struggled with his demons, even at the time of committing these offences.

But Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said: He spotted she was a good-natured as well as a sensitive and intelligent girl, and one way of manipulating her was to make her feel sorry for him as well as by being intimidating.

And he told the defendant: You were a sexual predator, and a clever and manipulative one at that.

You set the parameters by a mixture of bribes and threats, sometimes emotional and sometimes physical, and it went on for years. It is the grossest breach of trust.

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A FORMER head of an East Yorkshire children's home is facing jail for a third time after he was found guilty of a string of historical child abuse offences.

James Carragher, 75, was found guilty of 21 counts of indecent assault and three serious sexual assaults at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday, Humberside Police said.

A jury at Leeds Crown Court was told that Carragher was jailed for seven years in 1993 and a further 14 years in 2004 for offences he committed at St William's - an approved school for boys with behavioural problems in Market Weighton, East Yorkshire.

Carragher was principal of St William's, which was run by the Catholic De La Salle order, from 1976 to 1990.

The judge said "I've never ever in many years of doing this had a jury who had to consider so many charges, it is way beyond the norm, and they are some of the most difficult charges to deal with".

Carragher was jailed for seven years in 1993 and 14 years in 2004 for sex offences, pleaded not guilty to 50 counts of indecent assault and 12 other serious sex offences.

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A pervert found guilty of grooming a schoolgirl for sex laughed as he was sentenced by a judge.

Terrance (Terry) Day, 23 of Southampton was found guilty at Southampton Crown Court of sexual activity with a child aged under 16-years-old with penetration.

The court heard Day groomed the child for his own sexual gratification.

Day showed no remorse throughout the trial.

He was sentenced to 15-months imprisonment and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for a period of two years.

He is also required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten-years.

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A 20-YEAR-OLD man who committed a series of sexual assaults on vulnerable young girls has been sentenced to more than four years in prison.

Christopher McCain from Skipton Road, Huyton, pleaded guilty to the assaults against children in St Helens town centre in the summer of 2015.

A judge at Liverpool Crown Court ruled he must serve four years and eight months in prison.

McCain was also given a six-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for his lifetime.

Speaking afterwards, Detective Sergeant Jim Starkey, of St Helens CID said: "Today's sentence should send out a very clear message to paedophiles that sexual activity with children will be dealt with extremely seriously.

"Christopher McCain is a predatory offender who repeatedly took advantage of vulnerable young girls, which has resulted in severe psychological impact on his victims.

I would like to praise the victims for their immense bravery in giving evidence to help secure justice and has been supported every step of the way by the police and our partners.

I would urge other victims of sexual offences, whether they are historic or otherwise, to not suffer in silence and instead tell someone what has happened to them.

The force is committed to the protection and wider safeguarding issues of children. In doing so we view the abuse of any child as unacceptable and will work with partner agencies to investigate and where possible prevent such abuse.

We all have a duty of care to protect young people from harm and I would encourage parents, grandparents, teachers, health professionals, social services and any other adults to take a little time to better educate themselves about online safety and child sexual exploitation.

Merseyside Police has a great website called www.listentomystory.co.uk which highlights these issues from young peoples perspectives and also shows where you can get help if you have any concerns about any child you know.

"It helps victims to find the right kind of support and advice if they have suffered abuse in the past. It also has loads of information for young people to help them if they think they are being exploited, or if they are worried one of their friends may be.

Anyone who would like to report a sexual offence or anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Adam Rocky Beniston was prohibited from being near girls under 16 after he was jailed in 2012 for having relationships with two 14-year-olds. Released on licence after serving half of his sentence, the 30-year-old joined Starbox Gym in Stanton Hill, but, following a tip-off to police, was arrested last month for breaching the order.

Nottingham Crown Court yesterday heard how Beniston had not told anyone at the gym of his past and there were regularly children on the premises.

He did not attempt to speak with any young people, but the court was told his work-out sessions as a professional kickboxer often attracted a crowd, some of which were children.

He had even offered to take classes, although there was no indication he wanted to work with children.

Steven Taylor, prosecuting, said: It was quite clear he was going to place himself in situations where he would come in to contact with young people. He wanted to play a significant role in the club.

William Bennett, mitigating, said: He accepts its a breach of the order, and it was his responsibility. He only has himself to blame, he accepts that.

He said Beniston had been living with his grandfather and had joined the gym to get rid of stress.

Mr Bennett said Beniston also wanted to apologise to the owner because of the embarrassment he had caused.

Beniston, who previously lived in Mansfield and Mablethorpe, but gave his most recent address as Haddon Street in Sutton, had been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court in October 2012 after admitting relationships with two 14-year-old girls.

He befriended one in 2010, before making advances towards her. He went on to have sex with her on as many as 30 occasions.

He was arrested after tip-off but he initially claimed the allegations were fantasy.

Soon after he started a relationship with another girl, but she turned on him when she found out about the relationship with the first teenager.

The judge at Lincoln Crown Court said he had wrecked lives to satisfy his lust.

Along with a five-year sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders register for life and given the sexual offences prevention order, which prevented him from working or engaging with any activity with girls under 16 unless they are accompanied by an adult who know of his criminal past.

He admitted breaching that order.

Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Michael Stokes QC, said: You have convictions for very serious sexual offences and you were sent to jail for five years, which is an indication of how serious it is.

When you were released on licence it was important you were transparent about the order. You were not transparent. He jailed him for eight months to run concurrent with his existing jail sentence from 2012.

It is understood he will serve at least another six months, but it is possible he will be forced to serve the remainder of the five years, meaning he may not be released until October 2017.

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A former teacher who engaged in sexual touching with an infatuated teenager has been jailed for eight months.

Stephen Burrows, 66, was told by a judge he should have seen the warning signs and "stopped dead" what was happening.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Burrows, who taught English at Tonbridge Grammar School, suffered from impotency and that the attention from the girl made him feel more of a man.

The grandfather-of-two, of Greggs Wood Road, Tunbridge Wells, admitted sexual activity with a child and making indecent photographs.

The images were all of the girl and ones she had sent to him via WhatsApp and email. One showed her naked from the rear, two were of her topless and another two showed her in her underwear.

When Burrows was arrested in September 2013, his wife, Joyce, told police that the teenager was fixated with her husband and had once claimed she was the predator and he was the prey.

However, passing sentence, Judge Michael Carroll said he had no difficulty in identifying Burrows as being the one to blame for what happened.

"You knew that she was infatuated with you and you had the power to stop it...You chose not to do that and, as often is the case, it developed and in the end even you knew it was wrong."

The judge added his behaviour was aggravated by having the indecent photographs, as well as internet searches found by police which used sexual terms that showed "an unhealthy interest" in people akin to the relationship they shared.

The court heard the offences came to light in September 2013. The girl initially denied that anything improper had occurred and claimed rumours were being spread.

However, she later told police that Burrows had touched her intimately.

Prosecutor Steven Attridge said the girl also revealed that she had instigated the contact between them and on one occasion told friends she was going to "go for it".

"She said she hugged Burrows, kissed him on the lips and that it became more sexual. She put her head on his shoulder, she hugged him and he put his arm around her and was stroking her back.

"She said she put her arms around him...Things then escalated quite quickly and the stroking became sexual."

They later arranged to meet for coffee on three occasions.

Mr Attridge said they also expressed their love for each other in text messages and that Skype communications indicated that other sexual acts had taken place, although the prosecution could not go behind the victim's statement.

"He is extremely sorry for what he has done," added Miss Harris. "He realises he has let everybody down" - Caroline Harris, defending"

Caroline Harris, defending, urged the court to show leniency by suspending any sentence due to Burrows' ill health and that of his wife.

However, when she said Burrows accepted his behaviour had been "very stupid", Judge Carroll replied: "No, it was criminal."

The court heard that Burrows suffers from impotency as a result of type 2 diabetes and since the offences had lost 5st, does not have a stomach and finds it difficult to eat.

"He is extremely sorry for what he has done," added Miss Harris. "He realises he has let everybody down."

Upon his release, Burrows will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years and will have to sign on the sex offenders' register.

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A MAN who raped a girl with learning difficulties on at least three occasions has been jailed for 18 years.

But as Stephen Mark Rudkin, who, himself, also has mild learning difficulties, is considered to pose a significant risk of committing further similar offences in future, he was also made subject of an extended eight-year licence period.

The effect of the extended sentence means that 25-year-old Rudkin will not be released until the Parole Board consider it safe to do so, only after he has served two-thirds of the 18 years, and he will be subject to licence conditions until the end of the entire 26-year period.

Judge Christopher Prince said it means the public will be protected under the terms of the licence, until Rudkin is aged 51, therefore negating the need for the imposition of a sexual harm prevention order.

He will also be subject to registration as a sex offender for life.

Rudkin, of Ryton Crescent, Seaham, who has a previous caution for consensual sex with a 14-year-old girl, was convicted of two counts of rape after a trial in September.

He denied the charges, but, guilty verdicts were returned by the jury on the fourth day of the trial.

One of the offences was a sample count and the other a specimen charge covering at least two occasions, but Matthew Bean, prosecuting, said it was unclear exactly how many times it took place.

The sentencing hearing was adjourned to enable both psychiatric and probation reports to be drawn up for the court.

Christine Egerton, mitigating, said, although the defendant continued to deny the rape allegations, he has, at least, now conceded that some form of sexual activity took place and is prepared to undergo treatment while behind bars to address his, “inappropriate, dis-inhibiting sexual behaviour”.

Due to the age and vulnerability of the victim, the case was the first in the country to be subject to the remote link facilities in place in Durham.

It meant from the time the complaint was made to police, in May, until the outcome of the trial, the victim did not have to set foot in a police station, hospital or court.

She was taken to the “remote” suite to give her initial recorded interview with police, which was played to the jury at her trial.

The accompanied victim returned there during the trial for cross-examination, but only after the judge and barristers in the case had visited her to help put her at ease.

Miss Egerton, as defence barrister, was only permitted to ask a limited number of questions which were agreed with assistance of a child psychiatrist beforehand.

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A man who regularly abused a girl into her adulthood has been jailed for four years.

Dean Tarrant, 47, was a child himself when the offences began but he continued to abuse her throughout the 1980s, a court heard.

The offences happened when Tarrant was living in Northview Road, Swanley, and then Hawley Road, Dartford, between 1980 and 1989.

Tarrant, now of Brentwood in Essex, was found guilty of two counts of gross indecency and sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday.