Locations
Springfield, Rainford, St. Helens, WA11
Description
Thomas Beddow also sexually assaulted one young girl after subjecting her to a string of vile comments
A registered sex offender invited a group of schoolchildren to his house under the ruse to buy vapes, but instead answered the door naked and exposed himself to them.
Thomas Beddow performed a series of sex acts on his doorstep and also sexually assaulted one young girl after subjecting her to a string of vile comments.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 12-year-old girl, and a group of boys, would attend the 66-year-old's home in Rainford, in order to purchase vapes from him, the ECHO reports.
John Wyn Williams, prosecuting, described how Beddow used the restricted products as a 'way of grooming the children' as they visited on a number of occasions.
The first time the girl went to his house, he answered the door naked and offered her £10 to perform a sex act on him. She was left feeling 'embarrassed and disgusted' following the incident.
During a second visit, the complainant waited around the corner while the boys knocked on the door. Beddow again appeared naked and asked where the girl was before approaching her and saying "hello sweetheart, hello beautiful, hello sexy".
The pervert made a further sexual comment - deemed too graphic to repeat, and then performed a sex act in his doorway in front of the children. On a third occasion, the girl was walking past his home when he shouted "your t**s look great in that top" at her before groping her breasts.
After his arrest, Beddow claimed under interview that "he was being hounded by the children for vapes". A statement read out to the court on behalf of the girl's dad described how she often "breaks down and cries", adding: "He has ruined other children's lives. He should never be allowed to do this again.
"When she cries, she asks me why any grown man would do things like this. I feel it it will be a long process in getting her to where she was before this happened."
Beddow was previously jailed for 27 months in 1996 after inciting a nine-year-old girl to perform a sex act on him, then was was locked up again for 40 months in 2011 for abusing a 12-year-old girl. He also has a "string of convictions" for breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
Joanne Maxwell, defending, told the court: "He uses vapes and would be asked by the youths to obtain vapes on their behalf. I think there is an element of impulsivity to his behaviour - he knows he should have dealt with it very different, but he didn't."
Beddow admitted sexual assault and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was imprisoned for five years and four months and handed an additional three years on licence.
Sentencing, Recorder Imran Shafi KC described his "persistent and pervasive interest in young girls" and added: "You were engaging with a group of 12-year-olds at your age of 66, and it is clear that you were doing it by way of grooming in order to achieve your aims.
"She went to that address multiple times with the males, and each time it was obvious that you had taken a liking to her despite her tender years.
"In reality, there is very little mitigation available to you. It is clear to me that you have groomed this group of youngsters to achieve your aims.
"It was suggested that your actions were impulsive - I have no hesitation in concluding this is not the case. Your actions were designed, planned and carried out to achieve your sexual gratification.
"It is plain you have shown no remorse or empathy or insight into your behaviour. You have not stopped for a moment to consider the effects, probably lifelong, your behaviour will have on the victim and the other children too."