A MAN has been jailed for 14 years after being convicted after trial of vile abuse against a young teenage girl.

Daniel Crotty, 32, of Reevy Crescent, Buttershaw, appeared before Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced for five counts of sexual activity with a child and another count of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard the offences unfolded over the course of a single night several years ago.

He plied the young girl, who was upset at the time, with alcohol and told her it would make her “feel better”. He had also been drinking and had taken cocaine.

Crotty then went on to abuse her and the following day sent her a text message saying no-one must know about what had taken place.

Not long after, Crotty was also involved in a robbery and was jailed for four years.

The court heard his victim had tried to forget about the abuse, but saw him after he was released from prison.

Recorder Tom Little QC told the court he had come to the conclusion Crotty is dangerous.

He highlighted Crotty’s other violent offending while intoxicated and said he is capable of committing serious offences while intoxicated.

Recorder Little referred to the use of alcohol in the abuse against the girl, the significant disparity in age, the fact he was in drink and had taken cocaine and that he had told her not to tell anyone.

Starting with a sentence of 10 years, Recorder Little added an extended licence period of four years in order to protect the public in future. He will serve two thirds of the sentence in prison before the parole board will consider whether it is safe to release him. A sexual harm prevention order was also made.

Detective Inspector Amanda Middleton, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: “We welcome the lengthy sentence Crotty has received and hope this will give some comfort to his victim.

"We also hope it will encourage other victims to engage with our specially trained officers, who will work with partners to investigate all reports of sexual abuse sensitively and thoroughly, so safeguarding measures can be put in place and perpetrators can be brought before the courts.”

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “By plying a young girl with alcohol and rendering an already vulnerable victim defenceless, Crotty has demonstrated a single-minded selfishness, focused solely on his own sexual gratification.

“We hope the sentence brings his victim some form of closure and she is receiving the appropriate care. The NSPCC funds a number of therapeutic services such as Letting The Future In in Bradford and Leeds, which can help children who have been sexually abused move on with their lives.”

Children and young people with any worries can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk. Any adult with concerns about a child can call the NSPCC helpline for advice on 0808 800 500.