Convicted sex offender jailed for 21 months

A paedophile from Rushden who performed a sexual act in the presence of a five-year-old girl in his care has today been jailed for 21 months.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how Keith Wright, aged 52, formerly of Pemberton Street, committed the offence in February 2020, just a few months after a five-year placement on the Sex Offenders’ Register had expired.

The order had initially been imposed for a previous 2014 offence of possessing more than 700 indecent images of children.

Wright will now be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and be made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

DC Mark Allbright, who led the investigation for Northamptonshire Police, said: “Wright wilfully subjected the victim and her family to a full trial as he maintained a not guilty plea throughout. The trial caused ongoing emotional harm to the victim and her family who remained incredibly strong throughout.

“The mother of the victim broke down in tears while delivering her victim personal statement to the court today. The family have told me that their overriding feeling is of relief that Wright will now not have the opportunity to abuse other children.

"This case, like so many others of its type, shows how Northamptonshire Police take allegations of this nature very seriously and will investigate them at every turn.”