Convicted paedophile jailed for abusing girl

Ian Mcaninley was found guilty of sexually assaulting a child

A convicted paedophile who went on to abuse a girl has been jailed for seven years.

Ian Mcaninley, 56, had a history of downloading and sharing images of child sex abuse when he groped a girl under the age of 13, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The victim's mother said she had seen her "beautiful, carefree daughter turn into a lost child" because of Mcaninley's actions.

Mcaninley, of Gainsborough Road in Stanley, County Durham, had denied wrongdoing but was found guilty of sexual assaulting a child by jurors. He had admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order imposed indefinitely in 2017 for the indecent images offences.

As part of the order, he had to register any internet-enabled devices and bank accounts with police but failed to tell them about 10 such devices, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the victim's mother said her daughter had endured severe mental health problems since the abuse and Mcaninley was "unsafe" to be around children.

Recorder Andrew Haslam KC said Mcaninley was a predator who had a deeply entrenched sexual attraction to children.

The judge said Mcaninley posed a "high risk of serious sexual and emotional harm to children".

Mcaninley will have to serve a further three years on extended licence and sign the sex offenders register for life.

A new sexual harm prevention order was also made.