Paedophile given five-year sentence for sexual activity with a child

A PAEDOPHILE who groomed and then sexually abused a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for more than five years.

Northampton Crown Court heard how Nicholas Pearmain, aged 24, of Kings Road, Erdington, Birmingham, had groomed his victim over a period of time before going on to sexually abuse her.

He was sentenced to five years and three months and given an extended licence for four years. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) with indefinite notification requirements.

Speaking after sentencing, DC Victoria Wootton, of Northamptonshire Police’s child protection team, said: “This case highlights the dangers of grooming and how victims can be coerced into situations where they are sexually abused.

“The victim in this case has been through a horrific experience, and has shown exceptional bravery in talking through her ordeal and working through the long criminal justice process.

“Pearmain ignored the warning of police and the victim’s mother and instead continued seeking the victim out.

“He never admitted what he did and he failed to comment on what they did together. Police had to use forensics to help prove what he had done.

“His sentence should be a reminder to young people that grooming is a real and present danger, and that police will not tolerate those who seek to abuse vulnerable children.

“It will never equate to the harm he caused, but it will give the victim some semblance of justice to help them in the future.”