Man who sexually abused young girl jailed

During the period of abuse, the young girl spent time at her grandmother’s house.

In August 2022, the child informed her mother that the defendant had touched her in the bathroom of her grandmother’s house.

She also said the defendant carried out the same act in the bathroom of her own home.

The man denied any wrongdoing and the case proceeded to trial.

The then-five-year-old victim had to give evidence. Judge Greene said this “re-traumatised her”.

The jury found the man guilty earlier this year on three counts of sexually assaulting a child.

Judge Greene spoke of the long-term affect the abuse will have on the young girl and said the child was “particularly vulnerable, given her very tender age”.

The judge also said the child’s parents were “further victims” as they had left their daughter “in the company of a man who they has no reason to distrust”.

He paid tribute to the parents for their response to their child’s disclosures.

“The child could not have asked for more supportive and loving parents to assist her. They will derive no comfort from me telling them that paedophile offenders pray on good people like them in order to gain access to the innocents they abuse,” Judge Green said.