Former football stadium announcer abused girl, 11

Joshua Adcroft was jailed for 14 years at Preston Crown Court

A former football stadium announcer has been jailed for grooming and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.

Joshua Adcroft was already a registered sex offender when his offending came to light and he was arrested following his return from a work trip in April last year, Lancashire Police said.

The 32-year-old was jailed for 14 years at Preston Crown Court after admitting offences including sexual assault of a child under 13, making indecent images of children and several breaches of a sexual harm prevention order.

Adcroft, from Accrington, was described by the police as "manipulative" and "an extremely dangerous sexual offender".

The force said he threatened his victim to keep quiet about what he had done.

In a statement read to the court, she said: "I felt empty inside. I felt overwhelmed and helpless. I now feel frustrated.

"I'm annoyed that I was too scared to tell anyone and feel that I let him do it.

"Previously Josh's threats stopped me from telling people and reporting to the police as I was worried that he would carry them out.

However, after a period of time, I had the mindset of that not being my problem, and I was so relieved when I told my family."

'Perverted'

Adcroft, who also went under the name Joshua Everitt, had kept his contact with the child a secret from the authorities, police said.

Following his arrest, Adcroft's house in Accrington was searched and two laptops and an iPad were found hidden inside an upstairs wardrobe.

These devices had not been registered with the authorities – something he was required to do by a court order.

The devices were searched and on two of them, officers found indecent images of a separate eight-year-old girl and a chat log, in which Adcroft had encouraged sexual activity and instructed the girl's mother about which images he wanted.

Those offences took place on 8 April and 9 April 2024 and police are continuing to investigate the conduct of the victim's mother.

A further 53 indecent images of children were also found on Adcroft 's devices.

Det Con Laura Fahey said: "Adcroft is a manipulative individual who takes an unhealthy interest in young girls for his own perverted sexual interests.

"He is an extremely dangerous sexual offender who is now off the streets and away from children."