Paedophile's rape of girl, 12, captured on CCTV

Dylan Sherratt met with the girl despite knowing she was 12 years old

A "dangerous and manipulative" paedophile whose sexual assault of a girl was captured on CCTV cameras has been jailed.

Dylan Sherratt, from Colne in Lancashire, first messaged the 12-year-old in August 2023 to ask her for intimate pictures. Despite knowing her age, he then asked to meet her.

When they did so in Colne on 1 September 2023, Sherratt sexually assaulted her in an incident that was recorded on CCTV, Lancashire Police said.

Sherratt, now 23, was arrested two months later on suspicion of raping a child and making indecent images of a child. At Burnley Crown Court on Friday he was jailed for 16 years and 10 months.

'Sexually inappropriate'

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Police said that after finding out the girl was only 12, Sherratt stated in text messages to her he would "get done" if she became pregnant.

Even so, he continued sending her sexualised messages and even saved the victim's contact as "mine" in his phone.

Sherratt was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault after receiving a tip-off from a safeguarding officer at the girl's school.

During the police interview he answered "no comment" to all questions.

In two interviews, the victim described how Sherratt had raped her twice, once in woodland and once behind a launderette.

During an examination of Sherratt's phone, police found a "significant amount" of messages between them.

They included a large number of messages in which Sherratt was sexually inappropriate towards her.

In some, Sherratt was controlling and in others he made reference to them being in a relationship.

Dylan Sherratt was jailed for more than 16 years at Burnley Crown Court

In one conversation he stated he had "hooked up with another girl" before going on to say that it "doesn't mean we can't be mates with benefits".

When referring to the victim meeting his cousin, Sherratt stated: "You tell him you're 15, not 12," and continued "don't act like a child, act like an adult".

The messages ended on 12 September 2023, when Sherratt stated: "I'm sorry and I really like you as a person, but I don't feel a connection between us."

In her victim impact statement, the now 14-year-old girl said: "Since the incidents I struggle to control my emotions.

"I cry all the time, even at the smallest of things, and often feel very sad.

"I struggle to understand why I get upset or why I feel sad.

"I put this down to the incidents that happened with Dylan."

'Immense bravery'

The teenager said she continues to "suffer nightmares" twice a week, and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"I have been receiving counselling to help me try and deal with what happened with Dylan," she said.

"I don't want to go to school as I get bullied after what happened with Dylan."

Detective Constable Sarah Jones, of Lancashire Police's East Child Protection Unit, said: "Sherratt is a dangerous and manipulative individual with a sordid sexual interest in children.

"My thoughts are very much with his victim, who continues to show immense bravery."

Sherratt has also been made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.