Manchester child sex abuser jailed for 12 years

Dale Pendleton Briers abused his victim over a period of seven years

A man who sexually abused a girl from the age of ten until she was 17 has been jailed.

Dale Pendleton Briers, of Manchester, pretended it was just a game and experimentation when he began to abuse her, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The 32-year-old admitted 19 offences including sexual assault of a child and possessing indecent images.

He was jailed at Chester Crown Court for 12 years.

Prosecutors said the victim started counselling at the age of 17 when her family realised her mental health was deteriorating but did not know why.

The CPS said the counselling gave her the tools to confront Pendleton Briers and she challenged him the next time he tried to abuse her and it stopped.

She later received more counselling and was able to tell her family about the abuse.

Several years later she found the courage to tell the police, the CPS said.

'Destruction of youth'

When Pendleton Briers was first interviewed in 2021 he denied the allegations and said his victim had made them up and was out to ruin him, the CPS said.

However, police reviewed his mobile phone which revealed he had searched for extreme pornography and the sexual abuse of children.

He was interviewed again on 22 April 2022 and answered "no comment" to the questions.

He was charged in September and later pleaded guilty to the offences.

Lydia Durkin, of the CPS, said: "Dale Pendleton Briers used his victim almost as some sort of experimental toy for him to do whatever he wanted with.

"What he systematically failed to acknowledge was that his victim was a human being who did not want any of this to happen.

"She has had many years of counselling that has helped her see this as the dreadful destruction of her youth.

"She gained the skills to end what was happening to her and finally told the police and he has been brought to justice for his crimes."

Det Con Herminder Hira of Cheshire Police praised the victim's bravery and urged others to come forward "no matter how long ago the abuse took place".

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]