Man had sex with girl, 14

CHRISTOPHER BROWN

A SEXUAL predator who preyed on a vulnerable 14-year-old Oldham girl has been jailed indefinitely.

Christopher Brown (48) plied the schoolgirl with amphetamines and had sex with her on at least two occasions.

Brown, of Burnley Road, Bacup, was convicted by a jury of sexual activity with a child, child abduction, offering controlled drugs to a child, attempted escape from custody and a bail act offence at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.

The girl’s mother had contacted police after reporting her missing several times and finding her at Brown’s house.

Although Brown was not convicted of any offences against other girls, the court heard evidence of his contact with two other 14-year-old girls.

Brown was heard to have “flouted orders” made by a county court prohibiting his contact with one, and bail conditions prohibiting contact with another.

No proceedings were brought to court in relation to the two girls, but the judge said they were a feature in his sentencing.

Brown was told he must serve a minimum of three-and-a-half years before being considered for parole.

Alaric Bassano, prosecuting, said: “The complainant in all the charges is a 14-year-old girl who was befriended by the defendant.

“She was a girl not without her difficulties. She was repeatedly reported missing from her home in Oldham and it is clear she frequented the defendant’s home in Bacup, without her mother’s permission.

“Her mother was concerned about her whereabouts on a number of occasions. Her daughter would stay overnight and their relationship involved him giving her amphetamines, which she said she consumed on every occasion.

“It is also clear that the relationship progressed to a sexual relationship on at least two occasions when full sexual intercourse took place. Such were her mother’s concerns that she went to the police about her suspicions. Weeks after the original arrest the defendant was seen in a van late at night and was stopped by police. He told the police he was alone, when in fact the girl was in the back of the van under a duvet.”

Anthony Morris, defending, said: “The defendant is a man who has a partner and they are having a child.

“The provision of amphetamine should not be taken out of context.”

Sentencing, Judge Thomas QC, said: “I have to consider whether you pose a significant risk of harm to others. In my view, you do pose that risk.

“There were two other girls — one of them being your present partner and the mother of your child.

“That was clearly a relationship that involved you when she was young, if not under age. All of that rings alarm bells in my ears.”

Outside court, Detective Sergeant Alison Troisi, from Oldham’s Operation Messenger team, said: “This girl wanted to be treated like an adult and Brown took advantage of her vulnerability.”