Coalville paedophile groomed girls with alcohol and cocaine

A paedophile who gave two girls alcohol and one of them cocaine, whilst grooming them for sexual abuse, has been sentenced.

Sean Lawrence, 51, was convicted by a jury of a series of offences at various times between 1998 and 2014.

He denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty at Leicester Crown Court of:

• Three counts of indecent assault
• Three counts of rape
• Two counts of sexual assault
• One count of witness intimidation to a third victim.

Both sex abuse victims, who are now adults, were molested and assaulted during their teens in different locations across Leicestershire.

In June last year, one of his victims contacted police to say the tyres on her vehicle had been slashed, stating she believed Lawrence, of Linford Crescent, Coalville, was responsible as she told people he had abused her.

Following the initial report, the victim disclosed to police she had been sexually abused between 2010 and 2014.

As part of the investigation, a second victim was identified.

She told police she had been subjected to sexual abuse by Lawrence between 1998 and 2003.

'They had to relive the horrors'

Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "The two victims have been subject to the most appalling conduct by you and both have been living with the (emotional) scars for many years.

"By chance these matters have come to light."

He said the abuse had "severe effects" upon their lives.

The judge added: "These two women have had to give evidence and you receive no credit because you didn't plead guilty.

"They had to relive the horrors they experienced early on in their lives."

Judge Mooncey said Lawrence had given the girls alcohol and one of the victims "makes it clear you also gave her cocaine."

He added: "There's a strong element of you corrupting these young people.

"In some instances there was planning."

The defendant, who denied all the allegations during the trial, was acquitted by the jury of two counts of sexual assault and one of rape, relating to the same victims.

What was said in mitigation?

Timothy Banks, mitigating before sentence, said the defendant had suffered sadistic physical abuse at the hands of his own father when he was younger, which had affected him throughout his life.

Although he had unrelated previous convictions for violence on his record, he had reformed himself since 2009.

Lawrence had no relevant convictions for sex offending, said Mr Banks.

Lawrence was jailed for a total of 20 years.

He gave no reaction as he was led from the dock to begin his sentence.

Detective Constable Anna Blockley, from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) non-recent team, was the investigating officer. She said: “Lawrence thought he would be able to keep one of his victims quiet by trying to intimidate her. He thought if he threatened her, his crimes would go unnoticed.

“But he was wrong. Both victims in this case have shown strength and courage in reporting matters to police and as a result, Lawrence has been brought to justice.

“I hope the fact he has been convicted of his crimes can provide some comfort to the two victims.”