June 2016

Pervert molested girl and paraded in front of windows performing sex act in front of child

Photo of Strange is from 2011

A pervert who molested an 8-year-old girl and paraded in front of his windows performing a sex act in view of another young child has been jailed for just 10-months

Paul Strange, 23, invited the young girl into his back garden to see his animals then sexually assaulted her.

He twice molested the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons

A ten-year-old girl later saw him carrying out a sex act in his front window. She screamed but he continued.

The girl’s guardians said she they had changed since the attacks.

One addressed the sex offender directly in a statement: “Paul Strange, I find you disgusting.

“You have turned our lives upside down.”

The other wrote: “It makes me sick to think that [the girl] has been subjected to his sick and twisted ways.

“I feel so strongly I think if I did attend court I would not be able to keep my emotions in check.

“Out of respect for the judicial system I have removed myself from the situation.

“It’s going to take time to get through time but we will find a way.”

Strange, of Hampden Street, South Bank, denied two charges of sexual assault and one of sexual activity in the presence of a child – his first conviction for sex offences.

He forced his victim to relive her ordeal giving evidence in a trial.

He was convicted by a jury last month.

David Lamb, defending, said: “I simply pose the question – is it really necessary for this young man to actually lose his liberty today?

“Mr Strange continues to deny his behaviour. Very often offenders convicted of this type of offence do so to the very end.

“Threats have been made against him. He is fearful for the future and what will happen to him.”

He asked the judge to give Strange a chance and spare him prison “by the skin of his teeth”.

He suggested a suspended jail term and an order to carry out unpaid work in the community.

Judge Sean Morris rejected this idea, telling Strange: “You groped her on two occasions, having enticed her into the back garden to see the animals.

“Had this been a guilty plea, it would have made a difference.

“But you had a trial. That little girl had to relive it.

“She was an honest and compelling witness.

“It had a dreadful effect upon her and her family.

“Your continued denials will make it impossible to impose a community order.

“It is sad to say, a sad fact of life, that… this is not the most serious kind of offending I have to deal with and other judges have to deal with day in, day out.

“I have to be true to the sentencing guidelines which steer judges to various levels of sentences.”

Strange was jailed for 10 months, given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.