Pervert wearing dressing gown was with girl

A CHILD molester caught with a schoolgirl was wearing nothing but a dressing gown with a condom and tissues in the pockets.

Paul Lawrence groomed and abused his victim repeatedly before taking pictures of his depraved acts.

Lawrence, 56, of Whitegate Road, Holmfirth, bought numerous expensive gifts for the ‘particularly vulnerable child,’ Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Her mother, however, became suspicious and Lawrence, formerly of Southport, Lancashire, was caught with the girl when police raided his home.

Prosecuting, Robert Dudley said the mother had found a message on her daughter’s phone from Lawrence asking her to ‘come and play.’

After being confronted by her mother the girl said there was ‘nothing untoward’ going on.

But afterwards Lawrence bought the girl a new iPhone which her mother could not access as she did not know the PIN.

Mr Dudley told the court the girl later fell pregnant and had a termination by using a morning after pill.

However, he said there was no evidence to suggest Lawrence was responsible for the pregnancy.

The victim’s mum accessed her iPad and discovered a lewd text message from Lawrence, inciting the girl to dress sexually for him.

The police were contacted and raided Lawrence’s home where they caught him – wearing only a dressing gown and slippers – with the girl.

Mr Dudley said: “There was a condom and tissues in the pocket of the dressing gown.”

Lawrence admitted sending the girl an “inappropriate message” and officers seized his phone, along with her iPhone and iPad.

However, when interviewed by police, Lawrence said he couldn’t explain why he had sent the text and denied any wrongdoing.

Police discovered photos on the girl’s phone, showing him abusing her, but she refused to assist police and he made no comment.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Lawrence also admitted two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child.

The court heard he has unrelated previous convictions and was sentenced to custody at the age of 15.

Gerard Doran, defending, said his client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, sparing his victim having to give evidence in a trial.

He said: “This defendant does not seek to shy away from his responsibility.

“He acknowledges that he was the adult, that he was in the wrong and whatever he did he is responsible for and he acknowledges he should be punished for it.”

Judge Thomas Teague, QC, jailed him for six years and nine months.

The judge told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.