David Brown, a 35-year-old teacher, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for grooming and sexually abusing a schoolgirl. He used four different phones to contact the youngster over several months, sending around 700 sexual messages.
Details of the Abuse
Preston Crown Court heard that Brown's abuse escalated from online contact to kissing the girl and taking her to secluded locations. He also groomed her to engage in sexual activity at a house. The court was told he deliberately isolated the girl to carry out the abuse.
Police searched Brown's classroom after being alerted and found four mobile phones in his desk. Analysis revealed the extensive sexual messages between Brown and the victim.
Arrest and Sentencing
When arrested at his former home in Lytham St Annes, Brown said, "Can I go for a wee? I'm going to wee my pants. I'm sorry." He answered 'no comment' to all questions in interview but later pleaded guilty to charges including sexual communication with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Judge Paul Hodgkinson sentenced him to 11 years in prison and ordered him to sign the sex offender register.
Victim Impact
In a victim impact statement, the girl's mother said: "This incident has kept me awake night after night for months, with feelings of guilt, guilt that I was not able to do what I consider to be the most important job in the world - protecting my child."
DS Adam Errington of the West Child Abuse Investigation Team said: "Brown is a paedophile who tried to disguise himself as a trusted member of society. He abused his position as a teacher, as a person with a responsibility for young people’s wellbeing all for his own sordid sexual interests."
He added: "I want to send a message to young people out there today who may be a victim of sexual offences, without realising they are. It isn’t love – it is manipulation, and it is a crime."
