Burnley predator jailed for sexually abusing children and raping man

The 40-year-old was jailed for sexually abusing three children and raping a man in Burnley

A "dangerous predator" who subjected three children to "horrific sexual abuse" when he was a teenager and later raped a vulnerable man has been jailed.

Warren Templeton, 40, from Burnley, abused an eight-year-old boy in 2000, before attacking an 11-year-old girl and another child, Lancashire Police said.

He continued offending as an adult and raped a man more than a decade later.

Templeton was sentenced to 10 years in prison at Burnley Crown Court.,

'Manipulating'

Det Sgt Martyn Hargreaves said his crimes had had a "profound effect" on the victims.

"I hope this sentence will help them to recover," he added.

Lancashire Police said Templeton sexually assaulted the eight-year-old boy in 2000, before going on to attack an 11-year-old girl, who awoke to find him sexually assaulting her.

The third child was "isolated" and also attacked, with Templeton "manipulating her for his own sexual gratification", the force added.

The court heard the abuse took place in Burnley when Templeton was a teenager and more than a decade later he sexually assaulted and raped a "vulnerable man" in the town.

Templeton admitted the offences against the children but denied raping and sexually assaulting the man.

A jury found him guilty after a trial.

He was convicted of 12 offences in total, including rape, indecent assault, indecent assault on a child under the age of 14, and inciting a child under the age of 14 to commit an act of gross indecency.

He was sentenced to ten years in prison and was given a five-year extended licence period after a judge deemed him to be a dangerous offender.

The 40-year-old was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life and was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.