Locations
Burnt Oak Lane, Newdigate, Dorking, Surrey, RH5.
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."