A JUDGE sentencing a 59-year-old child sex offender who preyed on a 12-year-old girl told him he wishes it rains while he carries out an unpaid work order so he suffers more.

John Glen, of Dobrudden Farm caravan park, Baildon, pleaded guilty to inciting a 12-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity in June last year.

But as Judge Jonathan Rose sentenced him to 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with supervision and a high level activity order, he told him: "I hope that the typical English weather is as inclement as possible so you can suffer even more.

"You deserve to suffer. It will only be for 180 hours. This child will suffer for the rest of her life."

Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday Glen was drunk when he lured the child into a toilet at a house, gave her £20 and demanded: "What can you do for this?"

He then exposed himself to her and she ran off in shock and told her mother.

Prosecutor Nadeem Bashir said Glen denied any wrongdoing when he was arrested, telling the police the girl was lying.

He admitted the offence only at the case management hearing at the Crown Court.

In mitigation, Glen's barrister, Stephen Wood, said his client had no previous convictions for sexual offences.

He conceded it was "an appalling piece of behaviour".

Glen had lost his job and was now engaging with the mental health services.

He was very remorseful and would never do such a thing again, said Mr Wood.

Judge Rose branded the offence "disgusting" which had had done permanent and incalculable damage to the girl.

Glen had called the girl a liar and, because he did not confess at the earliest opportunity, she had the anxiety hanging over her that she might have to come to court to give evidence, he said.

Sentencing him, Judge Rose told him: "You are 59 and she is 12. It is utterly disgraceful."

Glen must sign on with the police as a sex offender for ten years and the judge made an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) banning him from working with children and having unsupervised contact with them.

Judge Rose criticised the prosecution for not requesting a SOPO, even though Glen's probation officer identified him as posing a high risk of harm to children.

The judge said it was "incredible" one had not been automatically sought and said they should be asked for in all such similar cases.