A convicted sex offender, said by the judge to be still a danger to young girls, was jailed for six years yesterday at Belfast Crown Court. Last month the jury found the west Belfast man guilty of a catalogue of sex offences committed against his girlfriend's young daughter while they were living together in the New Lodge area of the city.
The 38-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced on a total of 11 charges of indecent assault and gross indecency starting in 1991 when the child was six years of age and continuing until January last year when the victim confided in a teacher.
Judge Jeffrey Foote said the offences were very serious indeed as the defendant had been in the position of a stepfather. The judge added that at no time had the accused admitted his responsibility, and the probation report indicated he was still a danger to young girls.
The man was also placed on the RUC sex offenders' register for life.