Colne sex fiend who raped schoolgirl is jailed
john lowden
A “DANGEROUS” sex fiend from Colne who repeatedly raped a schoolgirl after grooming her has been locked up for 14 years four months.
Perverted John Lowden, 31, also committed sex acts on the child, got her to carry out indecent acts on him and took pictures of her naked on his mobile phone. Lowden, who showed the victim vile child porn films which he kept on the phone, also encouraged a teenage boy to perform a sex act on the girl, Burnley Crown Court heard.
The hearing was told the defendant tried to handcuff the youngster’s wrists and, she was to later tell police, wanted to tie her to a bed and called her names like “sexy bitch.” Lowden took several indecent photos of the girl, in which he made her pose sexually, and threatened he was going to put them on YouTube.
Lowden was said to have been a drunk living in squalor at the time he was responsible for the “highly deviant” behaviour.
The defendant (31), of Cleveland Street, admitted three charges of rape, sexual assault, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, taking an indecent photo of a child, three allegations of possessing an indecent picture of a child, causing a child to watch a sex act and intentionally assisting or encouraging an offence. He was also given five years’ extended licence and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life. Lowden was given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and was banned from working with children.
Mr Kevin Donnelly (prosecuting) said the girl, who lived in Pendle, told a friend at school what had happened to her, staff were informed and her mother rang the police.
The victim was interviewed by officers and Lowden was arrested. Police had to force their way into his home as he refused to open the door. He had to be pepper sprayed and was taken to the police station. The defendant was questioned and claimed he had never asked the girl to engage in any kind of sexual activity. Lowden had no previous convictions.
Mr Tim Storrie (defending Lowden) said: “He is utterly fatalistic. He knows he will be the subject of condine punishment.”
The barrister, who described the defendant’s conduct as “highly deviant”, said at the time he had become a drunk. Mr Storrie continued: “He had all but withdrawn from society and was living in a fair degree of squalor. His life had become isolated.”
Sentencing, Judge Andrew Woolman told Lowden there was an “element of sadistic treatment” of the victim, who he had abused and damaged.
He told the defendant he had no boundaries and continued: “It’s clear you have an unhealthy pre-occupation generally with sex.”
Judge Woolman went on: “I have not the slightest doubt you do pose a significant risk of serious sexual harm.”
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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