Locations
Ock Street, Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, OX14
Description
A SELF-PROCLAIMED playboy who preyed on two vulnerable schoolgirls has been put behind bars for 10 years.
Paedophile Lucas Irons huffed and puffed as Oxford Crown Court heard how he targeted the youngsters to satisfy his 'sexual ends' between July 2014 and January 2015.
Sentencing on Tuesday, Judge Peter Ross branded the 28-year-old dangerous and condemned him for his 'calculated and pre-meditated' offending.
He handed Irons an extended licence period of four years, warning the defendant he may have to serve all of his sentence in jail.
Judge Ross added: "It is clear from the evidence in this case that you were out of control. You were using networks of young girls as a means of targetting them for your sexual ends."
A jury of six men and six women unanimously convicted Irons of two counts of sexual activity with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault.
But jurors were unable to reach a decision on a further count of sexual assault after more than five hours of deliberation following a trial last month.
Defence barrister Peter Du Feu told the court the sex offender, who appeared via video link from Bullingdon Prison, continues to maintain his innocence but 'respects' the decision of the jury.
He went on to claim Irons, who was hunted by police when he failed to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court after being charged, did not deserve to be branded a paedophile.
During the trial, prosecutor Kevin James Barry claimed Irons, of Ock Street, Abingdon, had a 'powerful sexual attraction' towards the schoolgirls.
The court heard he used social media to target one victim, lying about his age and convincing the 'incredibly naive' teenager he wanted a relationship.
Irons, a former manager of Oxford’s All Bar One, invited the schoolgirl to his home, where she felt she had no choice but to 'go along' with having sex with him.
The sex offender, who claimed he had thousands of Facebook friends, preyed on his second victim in Littlemore Park, sexually assaulting her after swaying her away from her group.
She was left 'disturbed' by the assault, fleeing the park to a friend's house, the court heard.
Wearing a blue shirt and trousers, Irons took to the stand during his trial to refute the allegations, swearing on the Bible before claiming he had been 'completely honest'.
Irons, who also claimed he worked at St Clement's bar Joe Perks & Co, was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must pay a victim surcharge.