Description
A 60-year-old man who sexually abused a child over a period of 11 years has been jailed for 15 years.
Melvyn Peter Brown, previously of Northampton, started to groom the girl when she was five-years-old, with the abuse only stopping when she was 16.
She was around 10-years-old when Brown raped her for the first time.
The abuse was reported to police at the end of last year and following an investigation, Brown was arrested and charged with a number of offences.
A trial was set for May this year at Northampton Crown Court with Brown admitting to seven offences before and during - two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl 13-15, two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 during the trial, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, and one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
The jury then took about four hours to deliver their verdicts on the remaining charges, finding Brown guilty of three counts of indecent assault , one count of assault by penetration of a girl under 13, one count of sexual activity with a child aged 13-15, two counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13, one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and one count of sexual activity in the presence of a child under 16.
Brown returned to the same court yesterday (January 5) where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the 16 offences.
Lead investigator - Detective Sergeant Chelsea Noble of the SOLAR Team, said:
“The abuse perpetrated against this girl at the hands of Melvyn Brown was truly terrible and so I am very pleased to see him jailed for 15 years.
“Although no sentence can ever make up for what she was put through, I hope the fact that her abuser is now behind bars provides her with some comfort. She has been so brave in supporting our investigation and I hope she feels proud of the courage she has shown.
“Child abuse is a horrific crime that has a lasting-effect, and we are really passionate in the SOLAR team about putting offenders in prison and providing the survivors with the care and compassion they deserve.
“It doesn’t matter how long ago the abuse took place, we will always do our best to try and bring the case to court.
“I am glad that Melvyn Brown is now where he belongs, and I want to reassure the local community that we will continue working hard to bring more people like him to justice.”