Luton man who groomed girl, 13, jailed

Simon Wilson, from Luton, pleaded guilty to several offences

A man has been sentenced to eight years in jail after he groomed and sexually abused a 13-year-old girl.

Simon Wilson, 39, of Cardiff Road in Luton, had previously pleaded guilty to several offences.

St Albans Crown Court heard he groomed the vulnerable victim and manipulated her and her family.

Sentencing Wilson, Recorder Tim Clark QC said: "It was over a considerable period of time and you specifically targeted your victim."

Wilson admitted to six counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of meeting a child following sexual grooming.

The court was told Wilson's girlfriend had warned the girl's family she was concerned about the relationship, when the girl was 12 years old, but the concerns were dismissed.

Collected from school

Prosecutor Andrew Copeland said the defendant "inveigled his way into her family household".

On one occasion he kissed her on the lips and on another disappeared with her when they had gone to an event with his girlfriend.

Wilson's girlfriend had told him to stop contacting the girl but he continued to message her privately via a games console and mobile phones.

In May, he was back in contact with the family again and in June he collected her from school and took her to the top level of a multi-storey car park in Stevenage.

He took her shopping and bought her clothing and then abused her in his car.

Wilson was arrested in his flat the following day.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register and abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.