Latest Offenders

Description

Mark Loten, 51, now of Dorset Close, was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, of two indecent assaults and the rape of a woman known to him at another address in Littlehampton in 1991.

He was sentenced to two years for one of the assaults, three years for the second assault and to six years for rape. All three sentences will run concurrently.

In an exclusive interview with the Gazette, his victim who for legal reasons cannot be identified said the past 23 years since suffering the abuse had been a living hell.

She said: What he did to me is something that I will never forget.

It has been really hard to get over. I felt like I had no one to turn to and it has been something that has been with me for 23 years.

But it is such a relief to finally have this off my chest and to finally have justice done.

Lotens victim said she plucked up the courage to approach police following the recent rise in historic sex cases coming to court, nationally.

She is now encouraging other people who have been victims of abuse to speak to police.

Its never too late for people to come forward, she said. Theres a lot of people out there who have been abused.

It is hard talking about it to police. But they are very understanding and supportive. I couldnt recommend it more.

Sussex Police said Lotens crimes were only reported to the force in 2012.

Detectives carried out a thorough investigation to achieve justice for the 51-year-olds victim, a spokesman said.

The spokesman added: It shows that we will always take such reports seriously no matter how long ago they happened.

The victim was supported by ourselves and appropriate welfare and counselling through the case and her evidence was key in securing Lotens conviction.

Lotens victim said she can now move on with her life.

The memories of what he did will always be with me but now I can move on and get on with my life. For me, justice has been done.

Description

A pervert who groomed a schoolgirl for sex on the internet and downloaded child abuse images has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

James Newman made contact with the girl on a social media site called BearShare in January last year when she was aged 12.

They continued to chat on Skype with Newman claiming he was 18.

He told her his true age - 23 - before arranging to meet her shortly after she turned 13.

Prosecutor Paul Valder said Newman picked the girl up in his car at Rochester railway station and drove her to an industrial estate in Strood.

They kissed and undressed before having consensual sexual intercourse in the back of the car.

It was the same scenario when they met on two further occasions, Mr Valder told Maidstone Crown Court.

Newman did not use a condom and the girl was concerned on the second occasion that she could be pregnant. He advised her to have a pregnancy test.

It proved negative but she had the same fear after the third occasion and confided in a teacher at her school. Her family and the authorities were informed.

Newman was arrested at his home in Longfield Avenue, New Barn, near Longfield, in November.

Computer equipment was seized and almost 200 images and movie clips at all levels of seriousness were found.

He admitted three offences of sexual activity with a child and five of possessing indecent images of a child. He denied a rape charge and a not guilty verdict was entered.

Louise Oakley, defending, said Newman became isolated and incredibly withdrawn after he was bullied at school.

He was spending more and more time in his bedroom and turned to the internet, she said.

He accessed images and received them from other people. He desperately wanted to seek help but didnt know where to turn.

Miss Oakley added: Prison is having a significant impact on him. He is not a lost cause.

"He is young and has a lot to learn. He will come out, no doubt, a different man than when he went in.

Newman was sentenced to four years for sexual activity with a child and six months consecutive for possessing the images.

"He is young and has a lot to learn. He will come out, no doubt, a different man than when he went in - Louise Oakley, defending

Judge Charles Macdonald QC said there had been planning and grooming and there was a significant disparity in age.

Custody is the only possibility here for this kind of offending, he added.

You are truly sorry and, perhaps most importantly, there is a lack of maturity which has affected your responsibility.

A sexual offences prevention order was made for 10 years and Newman will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

Evil rapist Jonathan Mallon has been jailed for life after a 13 year reign of terror over vulnerable women. The creep met his victims at church events and raped two in public places, including a swimming pool changing room and the toilet of a busy cinema.

A vicious pervert was branded a “monster” yesterday as he was handed a life sentence for a campaign of terror that lasted 13 years.

Jonathon Mallon raped five women and sexually abused a sixth during a string of horrific offences that took place between December 1999 and March 2013.

One of his victims was a 21-year-old woman who was raped at addresses in Paisley, Renfrew and Greenock.

Mallon also forced a 31-year-old woman to perform a sex act on him at a Paisley house.

He was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow after a lengthy trial.

Mallon, 32, raped one of his victims in a cinema toilet and another was attacked in a changing cubicle at a busy swimming pool.

Each of his victims – who are now aged between 21 and 31 – was described as “vulnerable”.

Jailing Mallon for life and ordering him to spend at least 10 years behind bars before being able to apply for parole, judge Bill Dunlop QC told him: “This was a course of conduct that can only be described as monstrous.

“These offences were carried out against six women, each of whom was vulnerable in one way or another.

“It’s clear that you saw women who were vulnerable and ruthlessly exploited them for your own sexual gratification.

“The evidence all spoke of you meeting them and, at first, you charmed them, then very quickly became controlling.”

Judge Dunlop said Mallon’s victims had been left “devastated” by what happened to them.

He added: “The distress of your victims at the time must have become obvious to you and you simply ignored that.”

Prosecutor Kath Harper told the court keen churchgoer Mallon has previous convictions for domestic abuse, violence, carrying a knife and fire-raising.

Mallon met two of his victims at church, while another was ‘chatted up’ on a bus.

He met the others at parties.

One victim, aged 21, said Mallon would demand sex two or three times every day.

She added: “If I said I didn’t want sex, he just didn’t listen. He would say ‘I’m horny’ and just go on and on about wanting sex.

“I would try to push him away but he was just too strong.”

Another victim, who is 26, told the court how Mallon raped her in a cubicle at Scotstoun Swimming Baths, in Glasgow, while families with young children were nearby.

She said: “The place was really full of kids. I said ‘no’ and he told me ‘You know what will happen, don’t create a scene’.

“I said ‘you can’t, not here’ and he just told me to shut up.

“Afterwards, he said ‘do you know what I’ve just done to you? I’ve raped you.’

“It kind of looked like he was gloating.”

A third victim is now dead but statements she gave to police were read out in court.

She told how Mallon raped her in the gents’ toilets at the Odeon cinema, in Renfield Street, Glasgow.

The woman said: “I told him to stop, that I didn’t want to do it in the toilet, but he just kept going.”

In her statement to police, she also said Mallon forced her to have sex with a pensioner.

When she complained that the old man was dirty and smelly, Mallon bathed him and then told her to have sex.

The woman also said Mallon raped her after she became pregnant.

In evidence, Mallon denied all of the allegations against him and claimed that any sex had been consensual.

Defence QC Frances McMenamin said Mallon had suffered a horrific childhood and had been the victim of violence himself.

Last night, the Renfrew-based policeman who led the investigation into Mallon’s reign of terror welcomed the life sentence.

Detective Inspector Mark McGowan said: “Hopefully, we have given these women justice.

“Mallon is a calculating individual, who preyed on the vulnerability of his victims – first luring them into a relationship and then carrying out horrific acts on each of them.”

Description

A 26-year-old drama teacher who admitted having sex with a pupil has been spared a prison sentence.

Kelly Burgess, of Newport, had a seven-month relationship with the boy, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The matter came to light when the boy, aged between 16 and 17 at the time of the abuse, visited a sexual health clinic with Burgess after she developed symptoms of an infection.

Burgess was given a 10-month sentence, suspended for two years.

'Should have known better'

Judge Euan Ambrose told her: "You are a picture of misery in this courtroom.

"The relationship, albeit conducted as if between equals, was not a relationship between equals. You were older, you were his teacher and you should at all times have known better."

North Somerset District Council said in a statement after sentencing: "This was an isolated incident. The school followed the correct procedures and co-operated with the police."

Neither the school nor the boy can be identified for legal reasons.

The court heard Burgess and the teenager had sex at least once a week between January and August last year.

'Get the story straight'

When staff at the school noticed how close the relationship had become they informed the head teacher who challenged Burgess.

She denied the relationship was sexual and no further action was taken.

But after the visit to the sexual health clinic the police were alerted and an inquiry began.

When she was first arrested Burgess denied the offences, but when officers searched her home they discovered her mobile phone with a text message from the boy.

It read: "Got the police round. Don't text back, don't be scared.

"Just get the story straight for when they come for you."

Burgess later pleaded guilty to four sexual offences of breach of trust - engaging in a sexual act with a child between January and August 2013.

Description

A Catholic friar who admitted making hundreds and possessing thousands of indecent images of children walked out of court today with a suspended sentence.

Father Timothy Gardner, 42, of Sutton, was caught with more than 500 pictures of children and more than 5,000 prohibited images downloaded onto his computer in August last year. He also pleaded guilty to 10 counts of making indecent images of children.

Gardner had taught religious education at Maria Fidelis Catholic School in Euston, and had also been based at St Dominic’s Priory in Gospel Oak.

After admitting to the charges at a hearing earlier this month, Gardner was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years at Southwark Crown Court today.

He was also given a five year sexual offences prevention order and will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Keith Braithwaite, of the Met's Paedophile Command, said: "Every indecent image accessed by Timothy Gardner was a real child, a vulnerable victim of crime.

"His selfish and abhorrent actions have contributed significantly to the destruction of these vulnerable victim's childhoods. The MPS Paedophile Unit will identify and bring those that possess and distribute these images to justice."

Description

A MUM has told of the horrifying moment she learned that her son had been targeted by a paedophile.

Ian Gregory was last week jailed for more than two years after admitting a string of sex charges against a young boy.

The mother of his victim said she felt sick when her son told her about the abuse.

The mum said: My son told me: Hes been doing things to me. I just felt sick when he told me.

Gregory, of Fellside Terrace, Stanley, near Gateshead, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault of a child, two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one of causing a child to watch sexual images, and 14 counts of possession of prohibited images.

The abuse of the child, who was described as vulnerable in court, happened while Gregory was living in Basingstoke.

At Winchester Crown Court, Adrienne Knight, defending, said the 46-year-old had begun accessing indecent images of children online after he left the army five years ago, following an exemplary 12-year career.

She added the defendant had discovered he had an attraction to young boys after looking at images on the internet.

Mr Gregory says: I dont like myself for the way I feel. I didnt ask to be born like this, she said.

Its criminal and its awful but he cant help the way he was born. He wants to come out of this a better man.

Barnaby Shaw, prosecuting, said the offences have had a devastating effect on the victim and his mother, who have since had to move away from the area.

Speaking about the young victim, he said: He has difficulty sleeping and has been having nightmares, screaming out.

Mr Shaw said Gregory had not admitted to the sexual assault before the police found a video on his phone.

Sentencing Gregory to 25 months in prison, Judge Guy Boney said: You are a man of good character who had an exemplary army record for 12 years and you stand there at the moment covered, rightly, in shame for the offences you committed.

As well as jailing Gregory, the judge imposed a sexual offences prevention order and ordered that Gregory should be put on the sex offenders register for seven years.

Description

John Saxton, of Southcote Road, was convicted of three counts of raping a child under 13, one of sexual assault and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity

Judge Peter Ross sentenced a 71-year-old West Reading man to 16 years' imprisonment for raping a child saying it was one of the worst cases he had dealt with.

He released the jurors from ever having to serve on a jury again saying he hoped the case would not "haunt" them.

He described the 999 call made by the girl who was eight when the abuse began and 10 when she hid in her wardrobe and called the police as "harrowing".

John Saxton, of Southcote Road, was convicted of three counts of raping a child under 13, one of sexual assault and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was cleared of one count of rape and one of sexual assault.

After deliberating for more than 21 hours after a trial which lasted 14 days, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on the remaining seven counts - of a similar nature - which were left to lie on the file.

Judge Ross said Saxton had committed multiple rapes on the girl for a protracted period of two years.

The rapes involved oral sex and acts of "degradation" in which she described how Saxton took her into the lavatory and "used her as toilet paper".

Saxton also made the girl take part in "sexualised dancing" making her perform pole dancing and striptease sometimes using a game called Eat Me I'm Delicious in which he typed out commands on his computer in a mock TV show.

He said the effects on the girl were "truly terrible".

Speaking of a report sent to the court by a therapist who interviewed the girl, the judge told Saxton: "She used sexualised language and concepts which revealed the depth of corruption you have wrought upon her."

Judge Ross told Reading Crown Court yesterday Saxton maintained his control over the girl with a "truly evil threat" that he would turn on another child "so she continued to place herself in a sense as the sacrificial victim".

He said the girl had a complete breakdown after she reported the matter to the police, although the court heard she had since managed to settle back at school.

"The degree of harm that you have caused is simply enormous," said Judge Ross. "It is almost impossible to put into words the degree of harm."

He added: "She will bear the scars of that for the rest of her life."

The judge said of Saxton that the length of sentence he would impose "would have a not just life-changing, but possibly life-ending effect".

He sentenced him to five years for causing the girl to engage in "sexual dancing", 16 years for each of the three counts of oral rape and five years for sexual assault, all to run concurrently.

Saxton will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.

The judge praised the prosecution and defence barristers, the police officer in charge of the case and the control centre operator who took the 999 call, for their conduct the case.

He also praised the Reading Post/getreading for the way it has reported the trial.

After the hearing, the victim's father said: "We are very grateful to the jury and to the police."

Description

A married father of two from Fife who dubbed himself Papa Smurf as he sent sexually explicit texts to a teenage girl has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.

David Kidd admitted sending the messages to a 15-year-old girl he called Smurfette in March last year. The court previously heard the messages described a variety of sex acts.

Read More

Description

A predatory paedophile who groomed teenage girls for sex has been jailed for six years.

Duncan Alistair Morgan, 24, pressured two girls into having sex and abused two others after becoming an “attraction” to them, Newport Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Jeremy Jenkins said the complaints against Morgan dated back to February 2011.

A police investigation, launched in June last year, uncovered evidence that Morgan was using his age to groom underage girls, he said.

“It became apparent from information that had been obtained that the defendant was associating with much younger children,” said Mr Jenkins. “It proved to be an attraction for these girls. He appeared laidback and cool, to use some of the expressions.”

Mr Jenkins said the first girl was at home when she was followed to an upstairs bedroom by Morgan who kissed her and put his hand down her trousers.

“He told her to forget about what happened and no-one else needed to know about it,” he said.

Mr Jenkins said Morgan targeted another underage girl by sending her flattering messages over Facebook.

“They were complimentary and designed to gain her attraction and her confidence,” he said.

He said Morgan, after convincing the girl to have sex with him over a car bonnet, sent a flurry of text messages offering to apologise.

A third victim, he said, was targeted for sex in a toilet.

The last victim had been drinking alcohol, but awoke to find Morgan with his hand down her trousers, he said.

“He took full advantage of his age and relative experience and independence to groom and attract these young girls,” said Mr Jenkins.

Morgan was arrested but denied all but one of his crimes to police, he told the court.

“He maintained that the girls were not telling the truth and denied, in some cases, that he knew of their ages.”

The case came to trial, but on the second day, Morgan, of Bridge Street, Abercarn, entered guilty pleas to the remaining charges.

Hugh Wallace, defending, said Morgan’s pleas had prevented the victims from having to give evidence.

Mr Wallace said Morgan, who pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual activity with a child, had penned a letter to Judge Daniel Williams outlining his difficult upbringing and expressing remorse.

“That must have been a difficult letter for him to write but he wrote it and it shows the life he’s had thus far has not been a pleasant experience.”

Jailing Morgan for a total of six years and three months, Judge Williams told him: “Your behaviour is properly described by the author of the pre-sentence report as predatory.

“Young girls have been put under pressure by you to have unwanted sex with you. They can never regain that which they have lost.”

Speaking after the hearing, Gwent Police Detective Sergeant Sarah Goodchild said: “We are pleased to see Duncan Morgan sentenced for the crimes he committed today.

“He consistently and deliberately befriended children then went on to sexually assault them. The impact of his crimes will undoubtedly have a long-lasting effect on the victims in this case, but it was their bravery in having the courage to come forward and give evidence that saw him brought to justice today.”

Description

AN 18-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for raping a girl at his Knutsford Road home.

Adam Jones was sentenced to six years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

He was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of assault.

The court heard he attacked a teenage girl, known to him, on June 11 last year.

Police say they were lying on a bed together when he turned violent and raped her.

She managed to fight him off by elbowing him in the face.

In a separate attack two weeks earlier, Jones had beaten the same victim up, punched her to the face and ribs, knocking her unconscious.

She went to hospital and still suffers from blurred vision.

DC Laura Smith, from Cheshire Police, investigated the case.

She said: "Rape is an horrific offence, which affects victims in the most profound way.

“In this case the sexual offence was compounded by a serious assault, which could leave the young victim with lasting injuries.

"She has been incredibly brave throughout the case and was forced to relive the incident during the trial.

“I would like to thank the victim for her willingness to stand up to her attacker and see him brought to justice.

“I hope that the conclusion of this case will give her some closure and allow her to get on with her life.

"Cheshire Police is committed to tackling sexual violence and our Dedicated Rape Unit helps and supports victims of this type of crime.

"I hope this sentence - and the bravery shown by the victim - gives others who may have suffered in silence the courage to come forward."

Description

A child rapist who used Facebook to groom young girls before luring them to his home for sex has been jailed for more than six years.

Thomas Mayers, 20, “pestered” a 12-year-old girl on the social networking site for naked photos and repeatedly begged her to come to his house.

A court heard the girl eventually sent him some images and went to his home after he “would not leave her alone”.

He also persuaded 13-year-old to meet him for sex in a barn and at his home.

Shockingly, Mayers, who was 19 at the time of the offences last year, preyed on the school girls after he received a police caution for having sex with a 15-year-old.

Mayers admitted one charge of statutory child rape, two charges of sexual activity with a child and three other sexual offences involving the two girls at Stafford Crown Court.

Caging him for six years and nine months, Judge Amjad Nawaz told him: “You knew how old these girls were.

“They could not have given the impression they were significantly older. You had effectively pestered them to send photos having gained their confidence.

“When the 12-year-old told you she was too young and you told her she would be fine as though you were doing her a favour, it’s singularly unattractive.

“The caution ought to have been a warning to you, but it failed to have the effect.”

On Tuesday the court heard Mayers, of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., forced the 12-year-old girl into sex despite her telling him she was a child.

Prosecutor Stephen Bailey said: “She told him she was too young, but the defendant just said ‘you’ll be fine’.”

“The girl did not know what to do, so said ‘okay’ and they had sex on his bed.”

The pervert also met another 13-year-old girl in a local park and asked her for photos – which she refused – although she later had sex with him at his home and in a barn.

When he was arrested he told officers he believed the girls were older than they looked.

Michael Grey, defending, said: “Why did he not heed the caution? His instruction was he was more concerned with his parents.

“He had to leave his mother’s house and had to live with his grandparents.

“As part of the caution, he was sat down with a police officer and had explained what his behaviour meant to the girl.”

Mayers was also made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from living with girls under 16 and unsupervised contact with girls under 18.

Description

FOR two years he had kept his shame a secret.

Unknown to his wife, Philip Cant had recorded a 80-minute video of him molesting a young girl who he had lured to a room where he had set up cameras to film them.

The youngster had legitimately posed for pictures to help the paedophile and his wife promote their children’s clothing business.

Cant kept the video, which also showed shots of the girl semi-naked, on a computer memory stick for future viewing for his own sexual gratification.

And he got away with it – until he worked abroad as an engineer in Belgium.

A colleague found the stick, discovered the images and called police in Antwerp. They arrested Cant and notified colleagues in England.

Cant admitted assaulting the girl and keeping the images.

Gavin Sumpter, prosecuting at Southampton Crown Court, said: “He admitted in interview he was a paedophile and had been since he was 15-year-old, with a preference for girls aged between six and eight.”

Cant, 55, of Myrtle Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault and four of making an indecent image. He received a four-year jail term with a six-year extended licence.

The court heard Cant had two significant previous convictions. In 1972 he admitted sexually abusing an eight-year-old and in 1989 he had committed gross indecency with a five-year-old.

Sentencing, Judge Derwin Hope said: “You have acknowledged you can’t be alone with young girls and not abuse them. You pose a significant risk of causing significant harm to the public.”

The judge ordered Cant to be placed on the sex offenders’ register and the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, both indefinitely.

In mitigation, Neil Fitzgibbon said Cant was ashamed of his behaviour and had referred himself for psychological assessment to try to combat his desires.

Description

A British man caught in an undercover US and UK police operation has been jailed for trying to arrange for a child to be abused to order online.

Mark Luscombe, 29, of Verwood, Dorset, contacted a US Homeland Security officer who was posing as a paedophile.

He offered to send the officer indecent images of children in exchange for watching a girl being abused on webcam.

Luscombe was sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to 16 sexual offences at Bournemouth Crown Court.

'Wired differently'

When he was arrested at his home near Bournemouth in December, police found more than 150 indecent images of children on his computer.

During questioning Luscombe told officers he was "wired differently".

Matthew J Etre, attach for US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in London, said: "Protecting children from exploitation is one of the most important missions we have and, as this case demonstrates, it takes the collaboration of law enforcement agencies around the world to tackle this crime."

At a previous appearance, Luscombe pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, as well as eight counts of making indecent photographs of a child and five counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child,

He also pleaded guilty to another offence of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Description

A GIFTED schoolboy musician walked scot-free from court despite admitting sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in classroom cupboard.

Karl Henderson, 17, described as the most talented musician his school has ever seen, molested the girl at a Stirlingshire high school by touching her bottom and breasts, trying to kiss her and touching himself while holding her against him.

Despite pleading guilty to the charge on indictment, Henderson, who was 16 at the time of the assault last year, told police that it was consensual.

Sheriff John Mundy took what he called the exceptional step of handing Henderson an absolute discharge, saying he found it hard to determine what actually happened. The decision prompted an angry reaction from the family of the girl, who shouted, dont be molesting any more children as Henderson left the dock at Falkirk Sheriff Court.

The incident occurred on January 14 2013 when Henderson and the girl went to a music classroom during one of their lessons.

Police detained Henderson on January 16 where he said everything was consensual and denied holding her against her will.

Forensic examination showed traces of his semen on her skirt.

The girl told police that she had been having nightmares over the incident.

Henderson, of Grahamshill Terrace, Fankerton, Denny, Stirlingshire, pleaded guilty to the charges.

Gordon Addison, defending, said that despite the girl being 15, there was only six months between the pair in age.

He said: No school in the local area will take him if he is placed on the sex offenders register.

This young man is highly intelligent but his whole life will be disturbed unfairly. Society loses a very talented, very bright young man over a situation that happened in minutes between two teens in a high school cupboard.

He has been described as the most talented musician the school has ever had. Sheriff Mundy told Henderson: Im going to take a highly unusual step in the circumstances, I think its an exceptional case. It is one that is brought on indictment which makes it more exceptional. Im going to give you an absolute discharge. Henderson was not placed on the sex offenders register.

Description

A MIDDLE-AGED father has been jailed for having sex with a 15-year-old schoolgirl in a lay-by after picking her up from her school during her lunch break.

Gary Sparkes befriended the teenager after persuading her parents to let her come with him to show him the way around country roads near Cullompton while on a business trip in the area.

He won her trust by exchanging a stream of text messages before having sex with her in his car in the layby and at his home in Exmouth, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Father-of-two Sparkes, 49, of Tennyson Way, Exmouth, admitted four offences of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for two years by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC.

The judge told him: ”You had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old schoolgirl, who was the daughter of a family who were friends of yours. She was young enough to be your daughter.

“You had sex with her at your house and in addition you drove to Cullompton to have sex with her in the back of your car during a school lunch break.”

Sean Brunton, prosecuting, said the offences came to light when the victim’s older sister found suspicious messages on her Facebook page and her parents went to the police.

The girl was interviewed and said she and Sparkes had sex four times during a three month relationship, including once in the back of his car in a layby.

Mr Brunton said: ”She said the relationship started on Facebook and they arranged to meet to have sex. At one time she thought she might be pregnant but this was not the case.

“Her father recalled getting a text message from Sparkes asking to take his daughter out in his car as navigator as he was working in Mid Devon.”

Sparkes sent the girl 95 text messages and she sent him 125 and the Facebook conversations covered 500 pages.

Rupert Taylor, defending, said Sparkes is lucky in that his wife and two grown up children are standing behind him. He said he deserves credit for accepting he had done wrong and sparing the victim the need to go to court.

He said: ”At the time this happened he was depressed and on medication and was very grateful for the company. They became close friends and she told him she was attracted to him. He knows as an adult he should not have done this.”