Oldham man jailed for child sex offences

Keiron Degnan

A man from Oldham has been jailed for ten years for child sex offences.

Keiron Degnan, 35, of Cowie Street, Shaw, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, where he was jailed after pleading not guilty to 8 counts of sexual activity with a female under 16 and one count of breaching his sex offender registration requirements.

He was found guilty of all counts at trial.

Degnan had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a female under 16, with all counts relating to the same victim.

The court heard how in June 2019, Degnan had been living as a lodger at a friend's home in Ashton where the offences took place. One evening when the victim was watching television in the living room of the house, Degnan proceeded to engage her in conversation before then performing a sexual act on her. He then went on to have full intercourse with the girl on numerous occasions over a period of at least 16 months.

In May 2021, the victim confided to her parents what had been happening and Degnan was reported to the police.

Degnan had at the time been under the terms of a sex offenders notification which was handed to him in 2006 following a conviction for previous child sex offences.

Detective Constable Natalie Fairhurst of GMP Tameside District, said: "Degnan repeatedly exploited this young girl with his despicable actions which he committed with the sole purpose of satisfying his sexual desires without any thought or care at all for how this would affect the victims life.''

"I would like to thank the victim for her courage in reporting this to the police and helping us to make sure that Degnan faced justice and I hope today's sentence gives the victim and her family some closure."

Anyone affected by this case can contact police online, or by calling 101. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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