'Dangerous' man jailed for sexual assault on child
Benjamin Pinchin was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday
- Published
A man has been jailed after admitting sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and engaging in online sexual activity with a police officer who posed as a 12-year-old girl.
Benjamin Pinchin, 30, was sentenced on Thursday at Leeds Crown Court after admitting 36 offences at the same court on 26 June.
The charges included the sexual assault of a child, possession of indecent images of children, making indecent images of children, and multiple counts of attempted sexual communication with a child.
Pinchin, from Leeds, was jailed for 12 years and also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.
Pinchin was arrested and charged following a joint investigation by the Calderdale District Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) and officers from Leeds District Safeguarding Team.
Det Con Denis Parke, from OCAIT said Pinchin was "clearly a dangerous predatory man who poses a significant risk to young children."
"The making, possession and distribution of indecent images is degenerate and those who engage in this or in sexual communications with children online, should expect to be prosecuted," he said.
Det Sgt Claire Salkeld, from the safeguarding team, praised the victim for having "the courage to come forward and report the dreadful ordeal she suffered".
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